LP 


BX  7757    .R63  Z3  1844 
Foulke,  Joseph,  ca  1786- 
1863. 

Memoirs  of  Jacob  Ritter 


1 


MEMOI/tft 


<0i  OF  Pffr 


■  JUN  i2  i* 


JACOB  RITTER, 


A    FAITHFUL  MINISTER 

IN  THE  SOCIETY  OF  FRIENDS. 

BY  JOSEPH  FOULKE. 
"  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain,  that  nothing  be 

lost." — JOHX  VI.  12. 


T.  E.  CHAPMAN,  74  NORTH  FOURTH  ST. 
E.  WEAVER, 5  NORTH  FRONT  ST. 
BAKER  &  CRANE,  N.  YORK. 


PHILADELPHIA: 


1844. 


CHAPMAN  AND  JONES,  PRINTERS, 

Office  of  the  t^Fi^ends*  Vl^^eekly  Inlelligaicer,''^ 

No.  3  South  Filth  St.  Philadelphia. 


PREFACE. 

In  presenting  these  memoirs  to  the  public,  it  may 
be  proper  to  mention  that  the  narrative  of  Jacob  Kil- 
ter was,  at  his  own  request,  committed  to  writing 
many  years  before  his  decease,  and  was  carefully 
preserved  among  his  papers.  It  is  now,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  verbal  corrections,  published  in 
its  original  form.  This  portion  of  the  ensuing 
work  having,  in  manuscript,  been  submitted  to  the 
inspection  of  many  Friends,  they  were  of  the  judg- 
ment that  it  should  appear  in  print ;  and  that  many 
additional  anecdotes  and  striking  incidents  might  be 
usefully  appended.  Believing,  in  accordance  with 
the  view  frequently  expressed  to  me  by  Jacob  Ritter, 
that  some  remarkable  occurrences  of  his  life  should 
be  recorded  for  the  benefit  of  posterity,  I  have  en- 
deavoured, with  much  pains,  to  collect  and  arrange 
these  reminiscences  concerning  this  beloved  Friend, 
and  trust  they  will  be  found  to  answer  the  object 
for  which  they  are  now  offered  to  the  public.  It  may  be 
added,  that  Jacob  Ritter  being  of  German  parentage, 
had  retained  much  of  his  vernacular  style  of  language  ; 
and  to  this  circumstance  the  reader  will  trace  occa- 
sional peculiarities  of  expression  observable  in  tlie 
following  memoirs.  Joseph  Foulke. 


MEMORIAL 


CONCERNING  JACOB  RITTER. 

As  the  righteous  are  worthy  of  remembrance,  it 
may  be  said  of  Jacob  Ritter,  that  he  endeavoured  to 
live  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  in  humility,  and  self- 
abasement  becoming  his  rehgious  profession,  not 
numberuig  himself  among  the  great. 

His  original  ideas,  his  singular  comparisons,  and 
his  bright  example  of  piety  and  virtue,  made  his  min- 
istry interesting  and  acceptable  to  Friends  and  those 
around  him.  Like  the  good  Samaritan,  he  sympa- 
thized with  the  afflicted,  pouring  in  the  healing  oil. 

He  frequently  visited  his  friends  and  encouraged 
them  to  keep  their  ranks  in  the  truth,  (being  con- 
cerned himself  to  do  his  day's  work  in  the  day  time.) 
cautioning  them  against  a  hasty  forward  spirit.  He 
was  careful  practically  to  observe  the  admonition  of 
the  Apostle,  "  to  be  swift  to  hear,  but  slow  to 
speak,"  and  in  his  labors  he  manifested  no  disposi- 
tion to  carry  points,  but  was  bold  in  declaring  the 
truth.  His  conversation  was  pleasant  and  instruc- 
tive, and  liis  words  were  seasoned  with  giace. 

His  communications  in  meetings  were  not  lengthy, 
but  generally  to  edification  and  comfort,  especially  to 


vi 


those  who  were  under  trial  of  mind  ;  towards  these 
he  manifested  a  deep  concern  for  the  welfare  of  their 
immortal  souls. 

His  dress  and  household  furniture  were  plain  and 
simple,  showing  a  good  example  in  these  respects, 
and  raanifestinof  himself  to  be  a  man  fearin<r  God  and 
hating  covetousness,  and  yet  maintaining  the  ground 
of  industry  for  his  own  support  and  that  of  his  fam- 
ily. It  may  be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  knew  what 
it  was  to  be  abased,  and  what  it  was  to  abound,  both 
in  spiritual  and  temporal  things,  in  all  things  giving 
thanks. 

He  entertained  his  friends  and  strangers  with  kind-r 
ness  and  hospitalit}^  being  blessed  with  enough,  and 
believing  in  the  testimony  of  tlie  Divine  Master: — 

Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  right- 
eousness ;  and  all  these  things  shall  be  added  unto 
you."    Malt.  vi.  33. 

He  was  a  man  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Having  passed  through  great  suffering  and  afflic- 
tion, he  was  thereby  enabled  to  sympathize  with  his 
brethren  in  various  states  and  conditions,  possessing, 
at  the  same  time,  a  large  share  oi"  that  cliarity  that 
coverelh  a  multitude  of  faults. 

It  appears  from  his  own  account  that,  at  one  period 
of  his  life,  he  was  like  the  prodigal  son  who  had 
strayed  far  from  his  father's  house,  and  had  wasted 
his  substance  in  riotous  living ;  but  in  great  mercy 
and  loving  kindness  he  was  brought  back  again  to 


VII 


the  banqueting  house,  where  the  Lord's  banner  over 
him  was  love.  Gratitude  was  felt  for  this  unmerited 
mercy,  and  he  was  increasingly  induced  to  follow 
that  spn-it  that  leads  in  the  way  of  life  and  salva- 
tion. 

He  was  a  diligent  attender  of  religious  meetings  ; 
solid  and  grave  in  his  deportment  in  them  ;  and  was 
favored  frequently  to  make  pertinent  remarks  in 
those  held  for  discipline,  Ho  was  just  and  upright 
in  his  dealings  among  men  ;  and,  by  keeping  the  eye 
of  the  mind  single,  he  became  "  a  pillar  in  the  Lord's 
house  th;it  went  no  more  out;"  earnesdy  recom 
mending  Friends  to  "  mind  the  light ;"  to  "  take 
heed  to  the  life;"  "to  keep  down  to  the  root  of 
love  and  life;  to  get  down  to  the  "  root  and  founda- 
tion ;"  and  thus  be  preserved  in  harmony  and  love, 
and  united  together  in  feeling  after  the  blessed  spirit, 
which  is  the  bond  of  peace. 

As  none  can  rise  with  Christ  into  newness  of 
life,  but  those  who  go  down  with  him  into  baptism  of 
suffering  and  death,  so  it  was  this  dear  Friend's  ex- 
perience to  pass  through  seasons  of  great  desertion; 
insomuch  that  he  would  sometimes  express  his  feel- 
ings in  the  language  of  the  Divine  Master :  "  My 
God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?"  He 
would  thus  hold  out  encouragement  to  Friends  not  to 
shrink  from  suffermg,  because  by  these  baptisms  we 
are  redeemed  out  of  all  evil,  and  fitted  and  prepared 
for  the  heavenly  kingdom,  and  also  for  a  higher  state 


viii 


of  enjoyment  in  this  life,  even  communion  with  our 
Creator. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  time,  his  hearing  becam© 
dull  and  heavy,  yet  in  monthly  meetings  ho  would 
frequently  speak  to  the  business  with  life  and  clear- 
ness, his  mind  being  very  much  centered  in  the 
truth. 

The  last  meeting  he  attended  was  on  first-day  the 
28th  of  eleventh-month  1841,  in  which  he  appeared 
in  the  ministry  with  clearness,  to  the  comfort  and 
satisfaction  of  Friends.  Soon  after  he  was  taken 
with  a  chill  ;  after  which  he  graduallly  declined  for 
about  two  weeks.  During  his  illness,  many  Friends 
visited  him  :  he  remarked  that  it  was  profitable  for 
Friends  to  visit  one  another  in  the  life.  On  another 
occasion,  he  said  to  two  Friends  who  visited  him, "I 
am  glad  to  see  you:  behold  the  Lamb  of  God  who 
taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world."  At  another  time 
he  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that  people  might  be 
loving  and  kind  to  one  another.  His  mind  was  pre- 
served in  a  heavenly  calm,  and  in  this  undisturbed 
and  peaceful  state  he  continued  until  one  o'clock  on 
the  15th  of  tweltth-month,  when  he  passed  quietly 
away  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age,  being  a  minister 
nearly  fifty  years.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
Friends'  burial  ground  at  Plymouth  on  Seventh-day 
the  18th,  on  which  solemn  occasion  a  meeting  for 
worship  was  held  after  the  interment. 

Joel  JiAIRE. 


MEMOIRS  OF  JACOB  RITTER. 


It  has  many  times  been  on  my  mind  to  leave 
some  account  of  the  gracious  dealings  of  the 
Lord  with  me,  and  to  note  down  some  of  the  re- 
markable circumstances  of  my  life  from  my  youth 
up ;  and  now,  in  the  seventy-first  year  of  my 
age,  the  remembrance  of  the  following  particu- 
lars has  been  brought  very  fresh  before  me. 

My  parents  were  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Hitter, 
who  came  from  Germany;  and  when  arrived  in 
America,  they  bound  themselves  as  servants  to 
pay  for  their  passage.  My  father  served  three 
years,  and  my  mother  four  years. 

When  the  period  of  their  servitude  was  over, 
they  married;  and,  taking  each  a  small  bundle  on 
their  heads,  being  all  their  worldly  w^ealth,  went 
out  mto  the  woods  and  made  a  settlement  in  what 
is  now  called  Springfield,  Bucks  county,  in 
2 


10 


MEMOIRS  OF 


Pennsylvania.  Here  I  was  born  in  the  year 
17-57.  My  parents  were  honest  and  industrious, 
and  I,  being  their  first  child,  was  brought  up 
inured  to  hardships.  My  father  was  a  high 
spirited  man,  and  put  me  to  hard  work  as  soon 
as  I  was  able,  and  early  accustomed  me  to  the 
management  of  the  grubbing  hoe.  My  mother 
was  always  kind  and  tender  to  me. 

When  we  had  lived  at  Springfield  for  some 
time,  my  father  bought  a  small  tract  of  land  not 
far  off,  and  moved  his  family  to  it.  I  remember 
when  we  got  to  it,  we  found  that  the  dwelling- 
house  had  been  burned  down,  and  nothing  but 
the  chimney  left  standing.  My  father  went  out 
to  work  by  the  day  at  his  trade  of  shoemaking, 
in  order  to  earn  a  little  money,  and  my  mother 
took  me  with  her,  and  began  to  clear  the  land, 
and  I  became  expert  in  chopping  down  trees. — 
Many  times,  after  I  had  been  thus  employed,  I 
would  sit  down  on  a  stump  and  eat  my  dinner  of 
cold  pork  and  bread  with  a  relish  that  no  luxury 
could  give;  the  little  birds  used  to  hop  around 
me  without  fear,  and  I  amused  myself  with  scat- 
tering crumbs  for  them. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


11 


When  I  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  I 
used  to  love  to  throw  myself  down  on  the  grass 
before  my  father's  door  of  evenings,  when  I  had 
finished  my  daily  labor,  and  look  at  the  sky ;  and 
when  I  observed  the  bright  moon  and  stars,  or  the 
changing  of  the  clouds,  I  would  think,  surely 
there  must  he  some  great  power  that  created  and 
framed  all  these  things;  for  though  I  had  often 
felt  the  secret  touches  of  Divine  love,  yet  I  wist 
not  what  it  was. 

After  an  evening  thus  spent,  I  got  up  off  the 
grass  and  went  to  bed ;  and  whether  I  dreamed, 
or  whether  it  was  a  vision,  I  cannot  tell,  but  I 
found  myself  on  the  same  spot  which  I  had  oc- 
cupied in  the  evening,  and  I  thought  two  men 
came  to  m.e  clothed  in  white ;  one  of  them  laid 
his  han']s  upon  my  breast,  and  the  other  placed 
his  behiix  l  my  shoulders.  I  then  perceived  that 
they  .were  angels,  for  they  stretched  out  their 
wings  over  me,  and  lifted  me  up,  telling  me 
they  would  shew^  me  the  gates  of  heaven. — 
When  we  came  to  the  place,  I  beheld  our  Sa- 
viour with  outstretched  arms,  and  was  told  I 
must  enter  in  by  Christ  who  was  the  door. — 
When  I  had  passed  into  the  glorious  city,  I 


12 


MEMOIRS  OF 


beheld  that  every  thing  was  clear  and  pure,  and 
that  there  was  no  Kght  of  the  sun  or  moon,  but 
Christ  was  the  light  thereof.  The  two  angels 
who  had  brought  me  thither,  set  me  upon  an  ele- 
vated seat,  and  I  saw  an  innumerable  company 
round  me,  all  shining  and  bright,  and  they  sang 
the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb. 

When  this  heavenly  harmony  had  ceased  there 
was  a  great  silence,  and  then  the  shining  host  all 
passed  in  quietude  away,  except  my  two  conduc- 
tors, who  came  and  told  me  I  must  not  stay  there 
then,  but  must  go  back  again.  When  I  came  to 
myself,  heavenly  love  covered  my  mind,  and  I 
got  up  in  the  morning  in  much  quietness  of  spirit. 
My  mother  took  notice  of  it,  and  asked  me  the 
cause,  but  I  feared  to  show  her  the  vision,  until 
at  length  she  pressed  me  so  hard  to  tell  her,  that 
I  did  so,  and  she  repHed  :  Jacob,  my  son,  this 
is  certainly  a  foresight  of  some  great  work  thou 
wilt  have  to  do  ;  mind  now  be  a  good  boy  and 
fear  God.'' 

Time  passed  on,  and  when  I  was  about  six- 
teen years  of  age,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  I 
was  drawn  into  solemn  silence,  and  stood  alone 


JACOB  RITTER. 


13 


in  the  woods,  when  a  sig^ht  and  sense  came  over 
me  of  the  horrors  of  war;  but  at  that  tune  I  did 
not  know  the  meaning  of  it,  though  there  was 
then  a  common  talk  about  Whig  and  Tory. 
However,  when  I  was  about  twenty  years  of 
age,  there  was  a  muster  of  the  mihtia  in  our 
neighborhood,  and  the  clergyman  of  the  Luthe- 
ran Church  to  which  I  belonged,  preached  the 
propriety  and  necessity  of  standing  in  defence  of 
our  country  against  her  enemies  ;  so  I  was  per- 
suaded against  my  better  judgment,  to  join  the 
army  ;  and  taking  up  my  musket,  I  entered  the 
American  service. 

I  saw  much  of  a  military  life  both  in  the  camp 
and  in  the  field,  and  encountered  many  hardships. 
Were  I  to  enter  minutely  into  a  detail  of  them, 
it  would  fill  a  volume ;  but  in  order  to  make  my 
account  as  brief  as  may  seem  proper,  I  will  notice 
such  events  only  as  impress  my  mind  most  for- 
cibly. The  company  and  J^attalion  to  which  I 
belonged  marched  down  to  Brandy  wine  at 
Chadsford  and  joined  the  army  under  the  com- 
mand of  Washington  and  Lafayette.  W"e  had 
orders  to  work  day  and  night  to  erect  batteries, 


14 


MEMOIRS  OF 


&C.5  in  order  to  resist  the  progress  of  the  Eng- 
lish army. 

After  several  days  hard  labor,  we  became  so 
drowsy  that  nearly  all  the  men  except  the  senti- 
nels fell  asleep.  General  Washington  stood  in 
the  midst  of  our  camp,  and  called  out  to  us  with  a 
loud  voice  :  "  Boys,  get  up — but  be  silent,  the 
enemy  is  nearly  upon  us."  About  day  light 
the  alarm  gun  was  fired  by  the  British;  then  all 
our  army  made  ready  for  battle. 

General  orders  were  given  for  every  company 
to  maintain  its  ranks,  aud  each  man  to  keep  his 
place.  An  awful  pause  preceded  the  engagement, 
and  some  of  us  stood  in  solemn  silence.  I  then 
i-emembered  what  I  had  seen  and  felt  of  the  mer- 
cies of  God,  and  was  afresh  convinced  that  it  was 
contrary  to  the  Divine  Will  for  a  christian  to 
fight.  I  was  sensible  in  my  o\yn  heart  that  I 
had  done  wrong  in  taking  up  arms,  and  the  ter- 
rors of  the  Lord  fell  upon  me.  I  then  secretly 
supplicated  the  Almighty  for  preservation,  cove- 
nanting that  if  he  would  be  pleased  to  deliver  me 
from  shedding  the  blood  of  my  fellow-creatures 
that  day,  I  would  never  fight  again.    Then  the 


JACOB  RITTER. 


15 


love  of  God  was  shed  abroad  in  my  heart,  and 
all  fear  of  man  was  entirely  taken  away  ;  and 
throughout  the  engagement  I  remained  perfectly 
calm,  though  the  bombshells  and  shot  fell  round 
me  like  hail,  cutting  down  my  comrades  on  every 
side,  and  tearing  otf  the  limbs  of  the  trees  like  a 
whii'lwind  :  the  very  rocks  quaked,  and  the  liills 
that  smTOunded  us  seemed  to  tremble  with  the 
roar  of  the  cannon. 

It  happened  that  the  standing  troops  were  call- 
ed into  action  before  the  militia  of  which  the  bri- 
gade that  I  belonged  to  was  partly  composed. — 
Towards  evening,  (for  the  battle  lasted  from  sun- 
rise to  sunset,)  our  battahon  was  ordered  to 
march  forward  to  the  charore.  Our  way  was  over 
the  dead  and  dying,  and  I  saw  many  bodies 
crushed  to  pieces  beneath  the  wagons,  and  we 
were  bespattered  ^vith  blood.  But  no  orders 
were  given  to  use  our  small  arms,  and  thus  I  was 
enabled  to  rejoice,  that  though  I  was  provided 
with  sixty  cartridges,  I  did  not  discharge  my 
musket  once  that  day.  Forever  magnified  be 
the  God  of  my  life  that  I  was  mercifully  deliv- 
ered from  spilhng  the  blood  of  any  of  my  fel- 
low-creatures I 


16 


MEMOIRS  OP 


As  we  had  to  march  directly  under  the  Eng- 
lish cannon  which  kept  up  a  continual  fire,  the 
destruction  of  our  men  was  very  great,  and  Wash- 
ington called  out  to  us  :  "  Men,  retreat ;  it  is  not 
worth  while  to  sacrifice  so  many  lives."  It  was 
now  drawing  towards  night,  and  we  retreated  as 
well  as  we  could.  I  took  shelter  in  the  woods,  and 
having  found  a  thick  grape-vine,  crept  under  it, 
and  worn  out  with  hunger  and  fatigue,  fell  sound 
asleep. 

The  next  morning  I  crawled  out  of  my  hiding 
place,  and  a  sense  of  my  forlorn  condition  cover- 
ed my  mind.  I  knew  I  had  sinned  in  entering 
into  the  war,  and  no  man  going  to  execution 
could  have  felt  more  remorse.  I  went  along  un- 
til I  came  to  a  little  cottage  where  dwelt  a  Dutch 
woman.  I  entered  at  a  venture  and  begged  her 
to  give  me  a  little  broth,  for  I  had  not  tasted  a 
mouthful  of  food  for  two  days.  She  took  pity 
on  me  and  gave  me  some,  but  I  had  scarcely 
done  eating  it,  when  a  party  of  Hessians  came  in 
and  took  me  prisoner.  War-worn  and  weary  as 
I  was,  they  marched  me  before  them,  beating  rae 
most  unmercifully  with  the  butts  of  their  guns, 
and  occasionally  placing  their  bayonets  at  my 


JACOB  RITTER. 


17 


breast ;  they  swore  they  would  kill  me  on  the 
spot  because  I  was  a  rebel.  In  this  trial  I  experi- 
enced heavenly  Goodness  to  be  near,  and  again 
all  fear  of  death  was  taken  away. 

They  took  me  to  the  Hessian  general,  Count 
Donop,  who,  after  much  rough  language,  order- 
ed me  to  be  put  under  the  provost-captain,  and 
with  a  number  of  other  prisoners  of  war,  I  was 
marched  to  Philadelphia  and  lodged  in  prison. 

The  number  of  American  prisoners  in  jail  at 
this  tune  was  about  nine  hundred.  During  the 
first  five  days  of  our  confinement,  most  of  us 
had  nothing  to  eat,  and  many  died  from  want. — 
One  poor  fellow  who  had  been,  as  far  as  I  can 
remember,  five  days  without  food,  got  at  last  a 
little  piece  of  dry  bread,  which  he  devoured 
greedily,  and  then  leaning  his  head  back,  imme- 
diately expired ! 

I  had  been  three  days  without  a  mouthful  to 
eat,  when  an  aunt  of  mine  got  leave  to  see  me  ; 
she  gave  me  a  small  quantity  of  food  and  then  left 
me,  and  in  a  day  or  tw^o  after  sent  her  son  with 
some  more,  and  thus  under  Providence  saved  my 
3 


18 


MEMOIRS  OP 


life.  Ah!  when  I  have  seen  the  tables  of 
Friends  in  Philadelphia  loaded  with  all  the  luxu- 
ries of  wealth,  it  seemed  as  if  I  could  weep  over 
them,  remembering  the  days  of  my  famine,  and 
fearing  that  the  day  of  plenty  was  not  enough 
valued. 

While  I  was  thus  suffering  imder  this  cruel 
imprisonment,  I  remembered  the  impressions  of 
my  mind  on  the  day  of  the  battle  at  Brandy- 
wine,  and  feeling  myself  as  a  poor  worm  of  the 
dust,  I  used  to  go  out  every  evening  after  dark, 
into  the  jail  yard,  and  throw  myself  prostrate 
with  my  face  upon  the  ground  in  deep  abased- 
ness  of  soul,  and  supplicate  the  Lord  for  mercy. 

This  sense  of  my  undone  condition  lasted  for 
a  considerable  time,  until  at  length  the  voice  of  Di- 
vine compassion  passed  through  my  mind,  that  my 
prayers  were  heard  and  that  I  should  experience 
deHverance  from  my  troubles.  I  arose  from  the 
ground  with  gladness  of  heart.  But  now  my 
trials  increased,  for  I  being  a  stout  younj];  man, 
the  provost-captain  sought  to  entice  me  into 
English  service,  and  for  that  end  offered  me  a 
a  whole  handful  of  English  guineas ;  but  I  firm- 


JACOB  RITTER. 


19 


ly  refused,  and  then  they  beat  me  most  cruelly, 
until  I  was  much  bruised. 

About  this  time  I  heard  Count  Donop  say, 
as  he  passed  by  the  prison  on  his  way  to  Red 
Bank,  that  he  would  storm  the  American  fort  at 
that  place,  even  if  it  were  hung  at  the  very  gates 
of  heaven.  But  this  presumptuous  man  received  a 
wound  at  that  battle  which  proved  mortal. 

My  cousin  who  visited  me  in  prison  told  me, 
if  I  could  get  a  petition  presented  to  Joseph  Gal- 
loway (who  was  the  particular  friend  of  the  Bri- 
tish general  Howe)  he  thought  he  would  sign  it. 
This  he  did,  and  I  was  soon  afterwards  released. 

After  various  difficulties  I  succeeded  in  getting 
out  of  Philadelphia,  and  reached  my  father's 
house  in  safety.  My  relations  and  friends  were 
rejoiced  to  see  me,  for  they  had  not  heard  of  me 
after  the  battle,  and  had  supposed  me  dead  ;  but 
my  dear  mother  had  maintained  a  belief  that  she 
would  see  me  again,  and  would  often  say,  "  my 
child  is  yet  alive." 

In  the  spring  o^  1778  I  was  married  to  Doro- 
thy Smith,  a  young  woman  with  whom  I  had 


20 


MEMOIRS  OF 


been  acquainted  before  I  entered  the  army. 
We  were  both  poor,  but  having  a  true  affection, 
we  determined  to  assist  each  other  in  making  a 
livehhood.  We  removed  to  Philadelphia  and  be- 
gan house-keeping  in  a  small  way.  I  went  out 
to  do  days'  work,  and  many  times  have  mowed 
grass  on  the  spot  where  the  Green  Street  meet- 
ing-house now  stands.  My  wife  took  in  washing, 
and  we  made  out  to  live. 

But  it  pleased  Providence  to  permit  trials  to 
continue,  and  I  had  the  ague  for  twelve  months. 
During  this  afflictive  period,  I  endeavored  to 
support  my  family  by  working  at  my  trade  of 
shoemaking,  and  lest  through  debility  of  body  I 
should  sleep  too  long,  I  used,  instead  of  lying 
down,  to  lean  my  head  on  my  arms  against  a 
bench,  and  catch  a  little  rest  in  that  way. 

One  day  my  wife  was  sick,  and  my  little  son 
said  to  me,"Father,  I  am  hungry,  give  me  a  piece 
of  bread."  But,  alas !  I  had  none  to  give  him ; 
and  as  I  walked  up  and  down  the  floor  in  great 
trial,  a  soldier  entered,  and  taking  a  loaf  of  bread 
from  his  knapsack,  asked  me  if  I  would  give  him 
some  potatoes  in  exchange  for  it.    As  soon  as 


JACOB  RITTER. 


21 


ray  child  saw  the  bread  he  renewed  his  applica- 
tion to  me  for  a  piece  ;  but  I  told  him  he  must 
wait  until  I  went  down  cellar  and  saw  whether 
there  were  potatoes  enough  to  satisfy  the  soldier. 
I  was  very  glad  when  he  had  satisfied  himself 
and  departed,  and  then  with  gratitude  to  the  God 
of  my  life,  I  divided  the  loaf  of  bread  amongst  us. 

My  circumstances,  however,  began  to  mend 
when  I  recovered  my  health.*  My  wife  and  I 
continued  to  attend  the  Lutheran  church.  My 

*The  following  account  furnished  by  William  Jeanes 
as  related  to  him  by  Jacofc  Ritter,  goes  to  show  more  mi- 
nutely his  trials  and  the  state  of  his  outward  circumstan- 
ces about  this  time: 

"  I  had  the  fever  and  ague  nearly  a  year,  bat  when  I 
recovered  my  bodily  strength,  I  went  to  a  Friend  who 
was  a  tanner,  and  making  my  case  known  to  him,  ask- 
ed for  some  leather  on  trust,  and  told  him  that  I  would 
make  it  up  into  shoes  and  pay  him  as  soon  as  I  could. — 
He  said  he  did  not  deal  in  that  way,  he  must  have  the 
money,  or  I  could  not  have  the  leather.  I  went  away 
not  knowing  what  to  do,  being  very  much  cast  down. — 
As  I  was  walking  along  the  street,  I  met  a  Roman  Cath- 
olic, he  stopped  and  asked  me  what  was  the  matter,  I  told 
him  there  was  matter  enough,  I  had  neither  money 
nor  bread,  and  I  could  not  get  any  work:  he  told  me  to 


22 


MEMOIRS  OF 


mind  had  been  uneasy  for  some  time,  and  I  went 
to  some  of  the  heads  of  the  society,  and  queried 
with  them  about  matters  of  faith  and  doctrine, 
and  of  the  Light  that  shined  within,  and  also 
with  regard  to  water  baptism. 

They  told  me  there  w^as  no  such  thing  as  an 
inshining  light,  and  that  I  was  under  a  tempta- 
tion of  the  devil ;  and  recommended  me  to  go 
into  company  and  amusements  to  dissipate  such 
thoughts.  Here  great  exercise  came  upon  me. 
I  found  I  must  either  unite  with  them  in  all  their 
creeds  and  ceremonies,  contrary  to  the  convfc- 

come  with  him,  and  he  would  let  me  have  aside  of  sole 
leather,  and  a  side  of  upper  leather.  I  went  with  him 
and  got  the  leather  and  made  it  up  into  shoes,  and  took 
them  to  market;  I  made  them  good  and  strong  and  had 
ready  sale  for  them.  I  paid  the  Roman  Catholic  for  the 
leather,  and  never  wanted  money  to  buy  bread  after- 
wards; my  business  soon  increased  so  that  I  had  several 
hands  in  my  employ.  The  Friend  met  me  one  day,  and 
asked  me  why  I  did  not  come  to  him  to  buy  leathei.  I 
told  him  when  I  had  neither  money,  bread  nor  credit,  he 
would  not  trust  me,  but  now  I  could  pay  for  my  leather, 
and  had  paid  the  Roman  Catholic  many  hundred  dollars 
since  that  time." 


JACOB  HITTER. 


23 


tionsof  my  conscience,  or  must  turn  my  back 
upon  them. 

At  length  I  made  up  my  mind  to  leave  them, 
and  remain  as  a  pilgrim  upon  the  earth,  not  join- 
ed to  any  religious  society.  I  attended  to  my 
trade  and  business  diligently  ;  and  many  persons 
came  to  dispute  with  me  on  points  of  doctrine, 
and  tried  to  influence  me  to  join  them.  Among 
the  rest  there  was  a  company  of  one  sect,  who 
told  me  they  w^ere  the  only  people  that  walked 
in  the  right  way ;  but  I  told  them  I  was  not 
convinced  of  it.  They  asked  me  what  further 
evidence  I  wanted.  I  replied  that  I  had  seen  with 
an  eye  of  faith  a  people  who  worshipped  God  in 
spirit  and  in  truth.  They  said  they  were  the  very 
people,  and  began  to  quote  many  texts  of  scripture 
to  prove  it.  I  told  them  all  their  talk  would  sig- 
nify nothing  to  me,  as  I  was  determined  not  to 
join  any  society,  till  I  was  thoroughly  convinc- 
ed in  my  own.  mind.  So  they  departed  and  trou- 
bled me  no  more. 

The  night  after  the  controversy  above  alluded 
to,  I  saw  in  my  sleep  a  great  multitude  of  peo- 
ple surrounding  a  steeple  which  stood  in  an  open 


24 


MEMOIRS  OF 


plain,  and  I  wondered  no  houses  were  near  it. — 
Presently,  a  man  clothed  in  shining  garments 
stepped  up  to  me  and  said  :  "  Jacob,  these  peo- 
ple are  looking  for  the  appearance  of  the  foun- 
der of  their  society,  who  will  show  himself  at 
the  belfry  of  the  steeple-house,  but  mark!  as 
soon  as  he  makes  his  appearance,  the  steeple  will 
take  fire  at  its  foundation  and  consume  him  with 
every  thing  that  is  in  the  building,  and  it  shall 
be  utterly  destroyed." 

When  he  left  me,  I  saw  the  multitude  earnesfej 
ly  gazing  up  at  the  man  whom  I  now  beh JT 
standing  at  the  belfry  dressed  in  his  black  gown 
and  white  bands.  Great  fear  fell  upon  me  when 
I  saw  him,  and  in  a  few  minutes  I  beheld  the  fire 
kindle,  and  the  whole  building  with  the  man  in 
it  was  totally  consumed.  I  awoke  and  behold 
it  was  a  dream !  I  arose  and  bowed  myself  in 
supplication  under  the  baptism  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  The  heavenly  Principle  was  opened  to 
my  understanding,  and  solemn  reverent  silence 
covered  my  mind. 

In  this  state  of  feeling  I  was  again  permitted 
to  have  a  near  view  of  Paradise,  and  to  behold  a 


JACOB  RITTER. 


25 


glorious  company  surrounding  the  throne  of  God, 
singing  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  and  a 
voice  was  heard  saying,  there  is  more  joy  in 
Heayen  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth  than  oyer 
ninety  and  nine  just  persons  who  need  no  repen- 
tance." This  blissful  yie^v  confirmed  the  vision 
I  had  when  I  was  a  lad  as  has  been  related  here- 
tofore. Oh  I  that  all  would  come  to  know  this 
pure  inward  silence  before  God  !  On  opening  the 
Bible  while  under  these  serious  considerations,  it 
seemed  as  if  I  had  a  spiritual  understanding 
given  me,  such  as  I  never  had  before,  though  I 
had  read  the  scriptures  a  great  deal. 

Soon  after  this,  an  impression  was  made  on  my 
mind  that  I  must  go  to  the  Bank  meeting,  but 
did  not  know  at  that  time  any  thing  of  such  a 
place,  nor  was  I  acquainted  with  any  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends.  Accordingly,  I  went  out  and 
inquired  of  some  person  in  the  street  for  such  a 
place  as  the  Bank  meeting-house  ;*  it  was  on  a 
week  day.  I  at  length  arrived  at  the  place  : 
and  opening  the  door,  found  a  number  of  people 
assembled  and  sitting  in  solemn  stillness.  I 
went  in,  and  seated  myself  behind  the  door.   In  ' 

*  Formerly  situated  in  Front,  above  Mulberry  street. 
4 


26 


MEMOIRS  OF 


a  few  minutes  I  found  something  working  so 
powerfully  on  my  mind,  that  it  was  comparable 
to  the  whirlwind,  the  fire,  and  the  earthquake : 
under  this  exercise  I  got  up  and  went  out  of  the 
meeting,  and  stood  at  the  corner  of  the  house, 
outside  ;  but  I  felt  condemned  in  my  heart  and 
very  sorrowful  for  disturbing  the  solemnity  of 
the  meeting ;  for  now  my  eyes  were  opened,  and 
a  sense  w^as  given  me,  that  these  were  the  peo- 
ple I  had  seen  with  an  eye  of  faith,  worshipping 
God  in  the  silence  of  all  flesh.  I  then  resolved 
to  go  in  again,  and  sit  down  in  company  with 
Friends.  I  did  so,  and  the  same  commotion 
took  hold  of  my  mind  again  ;  but  as  I  endured 
it  and  strove  for  stillness,  light  arose  on  my  poor 
soul,  and  it  seemed  as  if  a  window  had  been  opened 
in  a  dark  room,  and  let  in  the  bright  sunshine. 

Here  all  my  doubts  were  at  an  end.,  and  I  was 
confirmed  in  my  faith,  not  by  outward  observa- 
tion nor  by  outward  things,  but  by  the  everlast- 
ing principle  of  Truth  revealed  in  me,  that  this 
was  the  true  worship  in  spirit  and  in  truth. — 
Sweet  peace  covered  my  spirit,  and  I  felt  as  if  T 
could  have  sat  there  till  night.  However,  the 
meeting  broke  up  and  I  went  home  determined 


JACOB  RITTER. 


27 


to  let  none  of  my  acquaintance  know  that  I  at- 
tended the  Quaker  meeting.  But  the  second 
time  I  went  the  news  spread,  and  the  Lutherans 
heard  of  it.  Now  my  trials  began  afresh. — 
When  my  wife  heard  of  my  having  been  to  Qua- 
ker meeting,  she  told  me  she  hoped  I  would  not 
forsake  the  Lutheran  faith,  nor  deny  the  scrip- 
tures ;  as  it  was  commonly  reported  that  Friends 
did  deny  them.  She  continued  to  go  to  the  Lu- 
theran church,  and  I  to  the  Bank  meeting,  foi" 
about  two  years. 

It  was  a  close  trial  for  me  to  differ  from  my 
dear  vdfe  in  matters  of  religion,  but  I  was  favor- 
ed to  keep  pretty  much  in  patience,  and  said 
but  little  to  her  on  points  of  controversy,  which 
proved  of  use. 

Not  long  after  I  joined  w^th  Friends,  hearing 
of  a  fair  to  be  held  in  Warwick  in  Maryland, 
and  also  one  at  Charleston,  I  concluded  to  take 
a  parcel  of  shoes  I  had  made  to  the  fair. 

Accordingly,  I  set  out  with  a  journeyman  and 
went  down  the  river  in  a  vessel  about  seventy 
miles,  then  crossed  the  country  to  the  head  of  the 


28 


MEMOIRS  OF 


bay.  When  we  reached  Charleston  I  hired  a  room 
and  bought  half  a  cord  of  wood,  that  we  might 
live  quietly  and  peaceably  by  ourselves  while 
we  remained  in  the  place.  A  large  concourse 
of  people  gathered  in  the  town,  and  among  the 
rest  was  a  play-actor.  He  came  to  me 
and  olfered  to  show  me  all  his  art  for  nothing  ; 
but  I  told  him  I  did  not  want  to  see  it. 

I  was  also  asked  to  attend  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing, which  I  declined  and  remained  quietly  in  my 
room.  One  evening  a  company  of  rude  men 
came  in  and  drank  and  used  much  bad  langliage. 
I  bore  with  it  for  some  time,  but  at  length  told 
them,  that  as  I  paid  the  rent  of  the  room,  I  wish- 
ed to  have  it  for  myself  and  companions.  Some 
of  them  being  warmed  with  liquor,  got  angry 
and  threatened  to  abuse  me  because  I  would  not 
join  with  them. 

An  Irishman  who  was  acquainted  with  me,  stood 
up  and  told  these  abusive  men,  that  if  any  one 
insulted  me,  he  was  ready  to  defend  me  througli 
rough  and  smooth  ;  but  I  told  him  to  forbear  and 
not  strike  one  of  them,  for  they  had  drank  so  much 
they  did  not  understand  rightly  what  they  were 


JACOB  RITTER. 


29 


about  —  so  he  sat  down  peaceably.  Now  just 
about  this  time,  a  stranger  somewhat  fashionable 
came  into  the  room — his  countenance  and  deport- 
ment were  grave  and  solid.  I  perceived  by  his 
language  and  appearance  that  he  was  not  a 
member  of  Friends'  society.  He  spoke  out  and 
said,  "  my  friends,  I  have  something  on  my 
mind  to  say,  if  you  are  willing  to  hear,  but  if 
you  are  not,  I  will  try  to  keep  it  to  myself."  As 
soon  as  he  spoke  my  spirit  bore  witness  to  his 
and  I  called  out,  "  my  friend,  if  thou  hast  any- 
thing on  thy  mind  to  say,  be  faithful so  he 
stepped  forward  and  spoke  as  follows : — 

"  My  friends,  I  was  once  as  fond  of  liquor  as 
any  of.  you,  and  drank  a  great  deal  not  only  in 
company  but  by  myself  at  home.  But  after  a  day 
of  carousing  I  began  to  reflect  that  if  I  kept  on  that 
way,  it  would  lead  me  to  misery.  I  went  to  bed, 
and  thought  I  was  conducted  to  the  top  of  a 
mountain,  where  I  beheld  two  men  entirely  des- 
titute of  covering  standing  by  a  trough  in  which 
I  saw  some  red  stuff  that  looked  like  fire.  One 
of  the  men  had  a  scoop-shovel  in  liis  hand,  and 
would  frequently  lade  up  a  shovelful  of  the  fire 
and  throw  it  into  the  open  mouth  of  the  other, 


30 


MEMOIRS  OF 


who,  after  swallowing  it,  would  vomit  it  back  into 
the  trough,  and  this  was  done  again  and  again !  I 
was  much  astonished  at  this  sight,  and  asked  my 
guide  what  it  meant ;  he  replied,  *  this  is  the 
miserable  state  of  drunkards.'  Oh  !  said  I,  this 
then  is  my  state  for  I  love  liquor.  I  awoke 
in  great  terror^  and  trembling  made  a  so- 
lemn covenant,  that  I  would  not  taste  another 
drop  of  liquor  as  long  as  I  Ih-ed,  and  from  that 
time  I  have  been  entirely  clear  from  that  awful 
sin."  The  company  listened  with  profound  at- 
tention to  the  voice  of  this  stranger  ;  and  I  do 
not  think  any  more  hquor  was  drank  that  night, 
for  the  people  went  away  next  morning  all  sober. 

Thus  I  was  delivered  from  my  trials  at  that 
time,  yet  felt  impressed  with  the  belief  that  more 
awaited  me.  So  when  I  embarked  in  the  vessel 
that  was  to  bring  me  back  to  Philadelphia,!  found 
some  rough  men  on  board  who  persisted  in  pro- 
ceeding on  the  voyage,  though  the  captain  said 
he  thought  we  should  have  a  storm.  They  went 
below  deck  to  play  cards,  and  drank  and  swore 
all  day.  I  went  to  them,  and  warned  them  to 
leave  off  their  evil  doings,  but  they  treated  me 
with  scorn,  and  would  not  take  my  advice. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


31 


However,  a  gale  overtook  us  in  the  evening, 
the  wind  blew,  the  waves  beat,  the  thunder 
roared  and  the  lio-htnincr  flashed :  then  these 
wicked  men  were  seized  with  great  terror,  and 
on  their  knees  prayed  for  mercy.  I  sat  in  a  so- 
lemn frame  of  mind,  and  saitl  to  them,  "  My 
friends,  you  have  been  serving  the  Devil  all 
day,  and  now^  in  your  extremity  you  cry  unto  that 
God  you  have  blasphemed,"  They  were  struck 
with  conviction,  and  implored  me  to  forgive  them 
for  their  ill  treatment  of  me  in  the  mornmg.  "  My 
friends,"  said  I,  I  freely  forgive  you,  and  be- 
lieve if  you  will  now  turn  from  your  evil  ways, 
that  the  Lord  \y\\l  forgive  you,  and  you  will  ex- 
perience his  mercy  and  preservation."  And  when 
we  came  safe  to  land  they  hung  round  me  like 
poor  beggai^,andwe  parted  in  much  tenderness.* 

*  JacolD  Ritter  was  a  faithful  coadjutor  with  his  breth- 
ren of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  the  support  of  their  tes- 
tiinon}-  against  intemperance.  He  labored  earnestly 
to  dissuade  all  who  were  in  the  habit  of  drinking  intoxi- 
cating liquors  from  such  a  hurtful  and  dangerous  practice. 

He  frequently  expressed  his  fervent  concern  on  this  sub- 
ject botiiin  meetings  and  out  of  them  ;  remarking  that  he 
had  been  grieved  in  the  army  on  seeing  the  officers  mix 
gunpowder  in  liquor,  and  press  the  soldiers  to  drink  it 


32 


MEMOIRS  OF 


One  day  on  my  return  from  another  part  of 
the  town  where  I  had  some  business,  I  found  my 
mother-in-law  and  another  woman  at  my  house, 
disputing  with  my  wife  about  doctrine.  Her 
mother  had  charged  her  with  going  to  Quaker 
meeting,  which  she  denied,  and  on  my  coming 
in, appealed  to  me.  "No,"  said  I,"thou  hast  never 
been."  My  wife  stepped  up  to  me,  and  said  in  a 
very  loving  manner,  "  now  Jacob  I  am  convinced 
thou  art  in  the  right  way,  and  I  will  henceforth 
go  to  meeting  with  thee." 

When  she  had  so  said,  her  mother  start- 
ed up  in  a  passion,  and  when  I  tried  to  per- 
suade her  to  stay  and  dine  with  us,  she  refused 
declaring  she  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  such 
reprobates. 

When  the  yellow  fever  broke  out  in  Philadel- 
phia in  the  year  1793,  my  mind  was  secretly 
drawn  to  visit  those  who  had  the  disease  ;  but  a 

before  going  into  battle,  that  their  minds  might  be  the 
more  infuriated  :  and  thus  men  were  hurried  into  eternity 
in  this  state.  He  very  justly  observed  that  intoxicating 
liquors  inflamed  the  worst  passions  of  men,  and  led 
them  on  to  the  commission  of  crimes,  which  in  moments 
of  sober  reflection  they  w»uld  abhor. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


33 


great  conflict  between  my  fears  as  a  man,  and 
my  duties  as  a  Christian  arose,  till  at  length  I  de- 
termined to  put  my  trust  in  God,  and  venture  my 
life  in  the  cause  of  suffering  humanity.  As  I 
was  going  out  of  the  house,  my  wife  said  to  me, 
"  Now  don't  thee  go  among  the  fever."  I  made 
her  no  reply,  but  walked  down  to  the  residence 
of  a  friend  who  lay  ill  with  the  fever.  When 
I  got  to  his  door,  nature  prevailed,  and  I  passed 
by ;  but  before  I  had  gone  many  steps,  great  dis- 
tress fell  upon  me  for  my  disobedience,  and  I 
then  gave  up  to  do  whatever  the  Lord  required 
of  me.  So  I  returned  to  the  house  and  entered 
the  sick  man's  chamber.  I  found  him  in  the  great- 
est extremity,  but  the  power  of  the  Almighty 
overshadowed  me,  and  I  had  faith  to  believe  he 
would  be  raised,  which  he  afterwards  was,  and  is 
living  at  this  day.  When  I  had  performed  the 
services  I  had  been  sent  to  do,  I  left  him  and 
returned  to  my  home  in  great  peace. 

My  wife  immediately  perceived  the  smell  of 
the  yellow  fever  was  upon  me,  and  taxed  me 
I  with  having  been  among  it.  I  did  not  attempt  to 
deny  it,  but  told  her  I  had  done  so  in  obedience 
to  Divine  command  :  "  well  then,"  said  she,  "  I 
5 


m 


MEMOIRS  Of 


submit and  from  that  time  I  visited  all  the 
sick  I  could,  both  Friends  and  otherS)  rich  and 
poor,  and  administered  such  consolation  and  as- 
sistance as  the  good  Master  put  in  my  heart* — 
Many  of  the  Lutherans  who  looked  shy  at  me 
after  I  had  left  their  Society,  now  they  were 
brought  into  affliction,  received  me  gladly ;  and 
my  confidence  was  strong  in  the  Lord.  At  one 
place,  I  found  the  husband  lying  very  ill  and  his 
young  wife  standing  beside  him.  He  stretched 
out  his  hand  towards  me,  and  said  he  was  glad 
to  see  me,  that  he  was  aware  his  end  was  near, 
but  that  he  should  die  in  peace  with  God  and  all 
men.  I  spoke  what  was  on  my  mind  to  him, 
when,  taking  my  hand,  he  said,  "Jacob,  farewell ! 
we  shall  never  more  see  each  other  until  we  meet 
in  Heaven,  but  be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and 
thou  shalt  receive  a  crown  of  hfe."  I  left  him, 
and  the  next  morning  called  again  to  inquire 
about  him.  His  poor  wife,  with  two  little  chil- 
dren, when  she  saw  me,  put  her  hands  on  her 
head,  and  bowing  herself  in  anguish  of  spirit, 
cried  out,  "  My  husband  is  gone  forever,  thou 
sawest  him  last  night,  and  now  he  is  under  the 
ground.** 


JACOB  RITTER. 


35 


My  heart  was  moved  at  her  distress,  and  I  felt 
more  than  I  could  well  bear.  I  might  relate 
many  more  affecting  circiunstances  which  I  saw 
during  this  awful  visitation,  but  in  order  to  be 
brief,  I  let  them  pass.  But  one  event  now  oc- 
curs to  my  recollection  w^hich  perhaps  I  had  bet- 
ter mention. 

As  I  was  going  along  the  street  one  day,  I 
saw  a  corpse  brought  to  the  Friends'  burying 
ground,  and  only  one  Friend*  follo\\ing  it.  I 
joined  him  and  we  proceeded  to  the  grave.  He 
stood  on  one  side  of  it,  and  I  on  the  other,  while 
the  corpse  was  buried.  We  parted  at  the  gate 
of  the  grave-yard,  and  each  w^ent  to  his  own 
home,  and  we  were  both  taken  ill  with  the  fever, 

While  I  lay  sick,  expecting  nothing  but  death,  a 
man  came  to  my  bed-side  and  told  me  the  Friend 
above  alluded  to  was  dead  and  buried.  When  I 
heard  this,  great  weight  fell  upon  me,  and  I 
thought  I  must  die  too ;  but  suddenly  my  mind 
was  raised,  and  I  was  again  favored  to  have  a 
transporting  view  of  the  heavenly  land.    I  be- 

*  Daniel  Offley,  an  eminent  minister,  for  an  account 
of  whom,  see  Friends'  Miscellany. — Ed. 


36 


MEMOIRS  OF 


held  the  garden  of  Eden,  and  saw  many  persons 
dressed  in  glorious  habits,  walking  to  and  fro 
among  the  trees  which  were  loaded  with  fruits 
and  flowers  ;  numerous  birds  were  singing  among 
the  branches,  and  all  was  peace  and  happiness. 
As  I  stood  by  the  gate,  much  wishing  that  I 
might  dwell  in  the  garden  also,  I  saw  the 
Friend  above  alluded  to  walking  among  those 
glorious  inhabitants  :  he  advanced  towards  me 
and  I  perceived  he  looked  very  fresh  and  fair. — 
He  said  to  me,  "  Jacob,  the  people  say  I  am 
dead,  but  thou  seest  me  here  ahve  and  perfectly 
happy."  Then  a  delicious  odour  and  pure  air 
came  from  the  garden  and  passed  quite  through 
me,  and  I  heard  a  voice  say  to  me,  "  Thou  slialt 
not  die  at  this  time,  thy  work  is  not  yet  done." 
My  ears  were  then  filled  with  the  same  delightful 
harmony  that  I  had  before  a  sense  of,  and  the 
praises  of  the  Lord  were  sounded  throughout 
that  happy  land.  When  I  came  to  myself,  I 
found  my  wife  leaning  over  me  to  ascertain 
whether  I  breathed.  I  soon  revived,  and  began  to 
recover  from  that  time. 

My  dear  wife  continued  to  accompany  me  to 
meetings  for  some  time,  and  was  concerned  to 
speak  a  few  words  in  them,  and  in  the  last  one 


JACOB  RITTER. 


37 


she  attended,  she  mentioned  in  German  the  para- 
ble of  the  prodigal.  About  this  time  she  told 
me  she  thought  she  should  leave  me  before  long  ; 
that  she  saw  her  end  was  approaching  ;  that 
she  believed  her  peace  was  made  with  her  Crea- 
tor, and  soon  afterwards  she  was  taken  ill.  A 
little  while  before  she  died,  she  called  me  and 
the  children  to  her,  and  after  tenderly  commend- 
ing them  to  my  care,  she  foretold  their  future 
history,  which  I  have  lived  to  see  fully  verified 
in  every  particular  except  one  ;  then  taking  me 
by  the  hand,  told  me,  she  had  seen  in  the  clear- 
ness of  the  hght  of  truth  that  many  trials  await- 
ed me  :  "  but  be  thou  fiiithful  unto  death  and  thou 
shalt  receive  the  crown  of  life,  which  is  laid  up 
in  store  for  thee,  and  for  all  them  that  love  the 
appearance  of  Jesus  Christ."  She  then  bid 
the  children  one  by  one  and  myself,  an  affection- 
ate farewell.  "  Now,"  said  she,  "  I  go,"  and 
immediately  leaned  her  head  back  on  her  pillow, 
and  died. 

While  a  widower,  I  went  regularly  to  Friends' 
meetings,  and  many  were  my  trials  and  exerci- 
ses, both  inwardly  and  outwardly.  It  would 
often  occur  to  my  mind  as  I  sat  in  meeting,  that 
when  I  was  a  prisoner  in  the  revolutionary  war, 


m 


MEMOIRS  OF 


I  had  vowed  revenge  upon  those  Englishmen 
and  Hessians,  who  had  so  cruelly  beaten  and 
abused  me,  and  I  would  secretly  petition  my 
Heavenly  Father  to  enable  me  to  forgive  them, 
and  to  point  out  some  way  to  overcome  those 
feelings. 

One  night  it  appeared  to  me  that  I  stood  in 
my  rank  in  the  army,  with  my  gun  on  my 
shoulder  and  when  I  remembered  that  I  belong- 
ed to  Friends'  Society  whose  principle  was 
peace  to  all  mankind,  I  thought  how  inconsistent 
it  was  for  me  still  to  wear  regimentals,  and  carry 
my  weapons  of  war.  I  then  looked  round  to 
see  how  I  could  get  clear,  and  there  seemed  to 
be  no  other  way,  than  to  throw  down  my  arms, 
and  desert ;  this  I  accordingly  did,  and  as  I  ran 
an  officer  called  out,  there  is  a  man  deserting, 
but  let  him  alone,  a  faithful  sentinel  is  on 
his  way,  who  will  stop  him  and  bring  him  up, 
and  then  we  will  pay  him  soundly." 

I  heard  these  words,  but  dared  not  turn  out  of 
my  way  to  the  right  or  left  to  escape  the  threat* 
ened  danger.  So  when  I  came  to  the  sentry- 
box, 'a  soldier  in  a  red  coat  leveled  his  musket  at 
me,  and  bid  me  stop,  for  he  must  bring  me  back 


JACOB  RITTER. 


39 


to  the  army.  I  heeded  hun  not,  but,  making  a 
sudden  spring  forward,  passed  hun,  and  he  fired 
upon  me ;  I  felt  the  bullet  strike  my  back,  but 
Was  not  wounded.  So  I  ran  on  until  I  was  too 
tired  to  rim  any  further,  and,  laying  myself  un- 
der an  oak  tree,  fell  asleep. 

When  I  awoke,  methought  I  found  myself  in 
great  darkness,  and  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what 
to  do,  when  suddenly  I  saw  a  great  light  before 
me,  and  was  commanded  to  arise  and  follow^  that 
light.  I  did  so,  and  it  led  me  safely  ;  for  I  ob- 
served that  wherever  my  road  was  rough  and 
difficult,  the  blessed  light  drew  near,  and  distinct- 
ly showed  me  how  to  step  ;  and  when  the  path 
was  good,  it  removed  to  a  greater  distance  be- 
fore me*  Thus  travelling  forward  I  was  led 
down  hill  in  order  to  pass  over  a  frightful  desert : 
the  light  now  hovered  about  my  head,  and  shed 
such  a  brightness  on  my  path  that  I  could  dis- 
tinctly see  numberless  reptiles,  and  noxious  ver- 
min about  my  feet,  but  they  fled  from  the  light 
and  hid  themselves,  and  I  stepped  from  one  sod 
to  another  unhurt,  and  thus  got  safely  over  this 
dismal  place. 

My  guiding  Ught  now  began  to  ascend  a  bill 


40 


MEMOIRS  OF 


and  I  followed  it ;  but  I  was  now  so  wearied 
with  ray  long  travels,  that  I  was  obliged  to  climb 
up  the  mountain  on  my  hands  and  feet. 

When  the  vision  was  gone  I  came  to  myself, 
and  was  sensible  that  the  Christian  principle  in 
my  own  breast  had  entirely  overcome  that  spirit 
of  war  and  revenge,  which  had  so  long  troubled 
me,  even  in  meetings  ;  and  I  was  enabled  to  for- 
give my  enemies,  even  those  who  had  so  greatly 
abused  me  while  I  was  a  prisoner  wholly  in  their 
power,  and  unable  to  defend  myself  Yes  !  and 
I  forgave  them  from  my  very  heart,  loved  them 
freely,  and  could  have  received  them  as  brothers. 
Oh  !  the  power  of  this  redeeming  principle  in  the 
soul  of  man. 

In  the  spring  of  1794,  I  removed  with  my 
motherless  children  to  Springfield  where  I  had 
bought  a  small  farm,  hoping  my  trials  and  temp- 
tations would  be  less  in  the  country  than  in  the 
city ;  but  when  settled  on  rriy  farm,  I  found  the 
tempter  was  the  same  in  every  place.  I  attend- 
ed Richland  meeting,  having  to  walk  five  miles  to 
get  there. 

Oftentimes  a  concern  rested  on  my  mind,  to 


JACOB  RITTER. 


41 


open  my  mouth  in  meeting,  to  declare  the  deal- 
ings of  the  Lord  to  his  poor  servant,  though  in  a 
few  wordsand  in  a  broken  manner;  and  as  I  stood 
faithful  to  the  pure  principle  in  my  own  breast, 
I  was  favored  to  experience  peace,  and  had  also 
the  unity  and  sympathy  of  Friends. 

When  Friends  first  proposed  recommending 
me.as  a  minister  to  the  Quarterly  meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  I  begged  of  them  not  to 
do  so,  for  I  felt  myself  a  poor,  dumb  man,  unfit 
for  the  service.    So  it  was  put  off  nearly  a  year, 
and  I  continued  in  my  low  and  humble  appear- 
ances as  before.    Then  the  matter  was  proposed 
to  me  again  :  I  told  them  I  had  rather  not,  but 
j  at  length  submitted  to  the   judgment  of  my 
I  friends ;  and  when  they  insisted  on  my  taking  a 
j  seat  in  the  upper  gallery,  I  did  it  ^vith  great  re- 
'  luctance,  my  mind  being  covered  with  fear  and 
solemnity  whenever  I  sat  down  therein. 

I  mention  this  little  circumstance  not  to  boast 
of  my  humility,  but  because  I  believe  the  cause 
of  Truth  has  at  times  suffered  loss  by  its  pro- 
fessors being  too  forward. 

In  the  year  1802,  1  married  Ann  Williams  of 


42 


MEMOIRS  OF 


Buckingham,  and  soon  afterwards  we  concluded 
to  remove  into  a  neighbourhood  more  thickly- 
settled  by  Friends,  and  accordingly  I  sold  my 
farm  at  Richland  and  bought  one  at  Plymouth, 
to  which  latter  place  I  removed  with  my  family 
in  the  spring  of  1812.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  year  (1827)  I  have  dwelt  pretty  much 
in  quiet,  receiving  all  who  came  to  my  house  ; 
turning  none  av;ay ;  until  now,  divisions  and 
rents  have  arisen  among  Friends,  and  many  of 
my  fellow-professors  have  turned  their  backs 
upon  the  galleries,  because  of  disputes  about 
faith  and  doctrine.  Now  I  am  clear  in  the  be- 
lief that  had  we  all  attended  faithfully  to  the 
pure  principle  of  light  and  life  in  our  hearts  and 
minds,  these  disjDutes  and  divisions  would  not 
have  been  among  us,  and  I  am  convinced,  that 
we  never  shall  get  back  to  the  unity  of  the  spirit 
in  the  bond  of  peace  until  we  settle  down  in  the 
everlasting  silence,  to  the  saving  and  redeeming 
principle  in  our  own  hearts ;  and  blessed  is  he 
who  attends  strictly  to  its  divine  instructions  and 
reproofs,  which  are  the  way  of  life  and  salva- 
tion. 


Here  the  journal  of  Jacob  Ritter,  as  left  by 
himself,  closes.    The  last  twenty-eight  years  of 


JACOB  RITTER. 


43 


his  life  he  resided  at  Plymouth,  a  branch  of 
Gwynedd  Monthly  meeting,  in  Montgomery  co.. 
Pennsylvania.  Some  of  us  being  intimately  ac* 
quainted  with  him,  and  frequently  in  his  compa- 
ny, have  heard  him  relate  many  interesting  oc- 
currences that  are  not  mentioned  in  his  Journal ; 
and  it  was  thought  best  to  annex  these  to  the 
foregoing  account. 

In  his  ministry,  Jacob  Ritter  seldom  mentioned 
the  sacred  name,  and  when  he  did,  it  was  w^th 
awe  and  reverence.  He  abounded  in  original 
ideas,  and  illustrated  the  subject  before  him  from 
familiar  objects  of  creation.  His  disposition  was 
meek  and  unassuming.  In  humility  and  self^ 
denial,  he  was  exemplary  :  and  after  passing 
through  many  trials,  he  became  so  much  redeemed 
from  the  world,  and  the  spirit  of  human  policy, 
I  that  it  is  believed  he  never  exercised  the  right  of 
suffrage  so  for  as  to  attend  an  election. 

j     It  is  not  recollected  that  he  ever  appeared  in 
I  public  vocal  supplication,  but  in  his  appearances 
in  the  ministry,  he    frequently   adverted  to 
the   duty   and    advantages  of  silent  inward 
prayer, 


il 


MEMOIRS  OF 


In  his  person  he  was  neat  and  clean,  his  dress 
was  generally  of  a  light  color  ;  his  conversation 
was  cheerful  and  mixed  with  gravity.  In  com- 
pany he  frequently  related  anecdotes  with  which 
his  memory  was  abundantly  stored,  and  they  sel- 
dom failed  to  attract  attention,  while  they  were 
fraught  with  interest  and  instruction,  especially 
to  young  people. 

His  wife  died  about  three  years  and  nine 
months  before  him,  by  which  he  sustained  an  ir- 
reparable loss.  She  was  a  true  help-mate  to 
him ;  a  valuable  elder  of  our  Monthly  meeting 
during  most  of  the  time  she  resided  among  us, 
and  frequently  travelled  with  him.  A  short 
time  before  her  decease,  he  paid  a  visit  to  a  num- 
ber of  Friends  at  Gwynedd,  and  in  one  of  the 
families  he  said  :  "  When  I  was  young,  I  had  a 
wife  and  I  loved  her,  but  I  hardly  knew  her 
worth ;  and  now  I  am  old,  my  wife  feels  more 
precious  to  me  every  hour." 

A  few  days  before  her  decease,  he  dreamed  he 
saw  his  staff,  (a  favourite  cane  he  had  cut  in  the 
woods,  and  had  used  nearly  forty  years,)  lying 
broken  on  the  floor ;  this  dream  troubled  him  ; 
when  he  awoke  he  found  his  wife,  who  had  risen 


JACOB  RITTER. 


45 


early,  returning  to  bed  with  a  chill  and  a  pain 
in  her  bones  that  she  said  "  struck  at  her  life 
he  immediately  thought  of  his  broken  staff,  but 
did  not  mention  it  to  her.  She  died  in  a  few 
days,  and  the  dream  was  affectingly  realized  in 
the  loss  of  his  Avife,  who  had  been  a  staff,  a 
faithful  and  an  affectionate  companion  to  him 
for  nearly  forty  years.  She  died  on  the  seven- 
teenth of  the  third-month,  1838. 

In  a  Friend's  family  not  long  before  his  decease, 
he  related  some  circumstances  that  took  place  on 
the  battle-ground  at  Chadsford  when  he  was 
in  the  army.  He  said  he  had  been  very  recent- 
ly on  the  ground,  and  saw  the  hills,  the  rocks 
and  the  trees  that  brought  back  the  remembrance 
of  the  awful  scene  he  witnessed,  when  the  deso- 
lations of  war  were  around  him,  when  the  shrieks 
of  the  wounded  and  the  groans  of  the  dying  were 
ringing  in  his  ears.  He  shed  tears  at  the  recital 
of  this  melancholy  picture  of  human  carnage. 

In  conversation  he  frequently  related  the 
events  of  that  day,  with  expressions  of  gratitude 
to  the  Father  of  mercies,  who  then  clearly  showed 
to  him  the  sinfulness  of  all  wars  and  fightings, 


46 


MEMOIRS  OF 


who  took  away  all  fear  of  man  from  him ;  who 
plucked  him  as  a  brand  from  the  burning  ;  and 
led  him  safely  along  through  deep  suffering. 

After  the  death  of  his  wife  he  was  very  lone* 
ly,  but  continued  for  the  rest  of  his  days  diligent 
in  attending  meetings  both  for  worship  and  dis- 
cipline, and  occasionally  visited  his  friends  and 
neighbors,  imparting  counsel  and  encouragement 
to  them  as  the  way  opened. 

A  few  months  before  his  decease,  he  visited  his 
brothers  at  Springfield,  and  many  of  his  former 
neighbors  and  friends  with  whom  he  had  reli^ 
gious  opportunities.  On  his  return  home,  he 
tarried  several  days  at  Richland,  visiting  Friends 
and  others.  He  attended  meeting  there,  in  w^hich 
he  delivered  the  following  communication : 

"  Since  I  have  been  sitting  amongst  you  this 
morning,  dear  friends,  I  have  remembered  some- 
thing: that  I  don't  know  I  have  thought  of  for 
seventy  years.  When  I  was  a  little  boy  about 
ten  years  old,  I  \ised  to  like  to  go  to  meetings 
sometimes.  One  first-day  morning,  I  asked  my 
father  if  I  might  not  go  with  some  of  my  com- 


JACOB  RITTER. 


47 


rades,  neighbouring  boys,  to  Quaker  meeting. 
He  said,  "for  what  would  3-ou  go  to  their  meet- 
ing ? — they  don't  have  any  preaching,  they  just 
sit  still." 

But  still  I  wished  to  go;  "well,"  said  he,  "  go; 
but  mind  and  behave  yourself."  So  I  set  off,  and 
walked  about  five  miles  barefooted:  when  I  came 
to  the  meeting,  it  was  late  ;  all  the  people  were 
in.  I  went  in,  and  sat  down  behind  the  door. 
I  looked  round  ;  the  people  appeared  so  serious 
and  solemn,  that  it  brought  good  feelings  to  my 
mind,  though  there  was  no  preaching.  Oh!  the 
good  feelings  I  experienced !  so  that  when 
meeting  broke  up,  I  felt  as  if  I  could  sit  still  an 
hour  longer. 

If  the  children, — the  dear  children,  would  but 
be  still  and  try  to  wait  on  the  Lord  in  the  truth, 
he  would  in  mercy  draw  near  to  them  ;  for  he  loves 
little  children,  and  sometimes  graciously  visits 
them,  I  believe,  at  a  very  early  age.  When  I 
came  home,  my  father  said,  "  well,  did  the  Qua- 
kers preach?"  I  said,  "no,  but  there  are  good  feel- 
ings amongst  them  that  are  better  than  preach- 


48 


MEMOIRS  OF 


ing ;  we  have  no  such  good  feehngs  in  our  meet- 
ings." 

From  the  period  above  mentioned  until  his  en- 
trance into  the  army,  it  is  not  recollected  that  he 
related  much  in  the  order  of  time,  that  is  not  con- 
tained in  his  journal.  In  this  school  of  adversi- 
ty, his  mind  became  stored  with  a  number  of  an- 
ecdotes, some  of  which  he  related  in  meetings 
and  others  by  the  fire-side,  with  considerable 
force  and  interest. 

On  one  occasion,  he  said,  a  young  man  was 
brought  into  the  army  and  required  to  perform 
military  duty;  he  said,  he  could  not  fight,  for  he 
was  a  Quaker.  The  presiding  officer  replied, 
"  But  you  are  no  Quaker  for  you  have  not  the 
*  cooterments,' "  (accoutrements).  The  young 
man  then  produced  some  written  credentials  by 
which  he  proved  his  right  of  membership.  The 
officer  now  called  for  a  shears  that  he  might 
trim  him  ;  and  so  he  cut  off  his  capes  and  his 
lappels,  and  sitch  a  hair  tail  he  had  behind, 
(a  cue)  and  then  said  to  him,  "  now  you  may  go, 
now  you  look  more  like  a  Quaker." 


JACOB  RITTER. 


49 


Jacob  related  this  anecdote  in  a  Monthly  meet- 
ing when  the  subject  of  "  plainness,  &c.,"  was 
under  review,  and  went  on  to  show  that  in  the 
array  it  was  considered  an  act  of  gross  misbeha- 
viour and  insubordination,  for  a  man  to  wear  any 
other  uniform  than  that  wdiich  accorded  with 
his  rank,  and  the  company  to  which  he  belonged  ; 
that  the  young  man  would  have  been  saved  a 
great  deal  of  chagrin,  had  his  "  cooterments'* 
corresponded  w^ith  his  profession  ;  that  the  offi- 
cer could  not  understand  why  he  appeared  in  a 
dress  having  in  many  respects  the  semblance  of 

1    a  mihtary  garb,  professing  at  the  same  time  the 

'   peaceable  principles  of  Friends. 

'  ^  .  .  . 

He  drew  a  very  sensible  conclusion  from  this 

anecdote,  viz. — that  "  plainness  of  speech  and 
simplicity  of  apparel"  w^ere  a  much  greater  pro- 

I  tection  to  Friends  than  many  were  aware  of ; 
that  the  most  correct  and  honorable  people  of 
the  world  could  not  view  a  Friend,  swerving 

j  from  the  principles  of  his  profession,  in  any  other 
Hght  than  that  in  which  the  officer  regarded  the 
individual  above  mentioned. 


Jacob  Ritter  was  a  bright  example  to  his 
7 


50  MEMOIRS  OF 

friends  and  neighbors  in  the  faithful  support  of 
our  testimony  to  plainness  in  dress,  furniture,  and 
equipage,  and  he  agreed  with  many  others,  that 
plainness  in  these  respects  consisted  in  the 
greatest  degree  of  usefulness,  comfort,  and  con- 
venience, obtained  with  the  least  degree  of  labor 
and  expense.*' 

About  the  middle  of  the  ninth-month,  1777, 
he  was  taken  prisoner  as  before  related.  The 
weather  was  cold,  the  glass  in  the  jail  windows 
was  broken  out,  and  he  was  compelled  to  lodge 
on  the  bare  ground,  almost  literally  without  food 
and  clothing.  Many  of  his  fellow-prisoners  ac- 
tually starved  to  death,  and  some  of  them  died 
with  a  little  grass  half  chewed  in  their  mouths.* 

*  This  affecting-  circumstance  is  forcibly  alluded  to  in 
a  letter  published  in  1778,  and  addressed  by  Francis 
Hopkinson,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  declaration  of 
American  Independence,  to  Joseph  Galloway.  In  this  let- 
ter, which  contains  a  severe  rebuke  of  the  conduct  of  the 
latter  individual,  the  writer  thus  expresses  himself:  "you 
sit  down  daily  to  a  board  spread  with  more  than  plenty, 
and  know  with  unconcern  that  numbers  of  your  coun- 
trymen, even  some  of  your  former  acquaintances  are  suf- 


JACOB  RITTER. 


51 


He  was  applied  to  by  one  poor  prisoner,  who 
said  his  end  was  near,  if  he  could  not  get  some 
relief.  Having  ^vith  great  difficulty  procured  a 
cracker,  Jacob  told  him  to  take  a  little  at  a  time 
well  soaked  in  vrater ;  this  was  done,  and  the 
man  revived,  and  several  years  afterwards,  as  Ja- 
cob was  passing,  this  person  came  out  of  his 
house  and  addressed  him  in  this  manner  :  "  you 
are  the  man  that  saved  my  hfe  in  prison  with  a 
cracker  !  come  in,  for  I  owe  my  life  to  you,  I 
will  make  you  all  the  compensation  in  my 
power." 

Jacob  said,  "  I  looked  at  him,  and  remembered 
him,  but  I  could  not  take  any  reward  ;  and  after 
we  had  talked  a  while  about  our  sufferino;s  in 
prison,  and  about  our  release,  and  how  we  fared, 
we  both  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears,  and  parted  in 
great  tenderness." 

But  to  return,  he  said,  "  one  day  a  family  in 
Philadelphia,  knowing  of  our  sufferings,  sent  us 

ferinor  all  the  lingering  anguish  of  absolute  famine  in  the 
jails  of  this  city."  *'  You  well  know  that  they  have 
plucked  the  weeds  of  the  earth  for  food,  and  expired  with 
the  unchewed  grass  in  their  mouths,  &c." 


52 


MElVipiRS  OF 


a  large  tub  filled  with  warm  soup  ;  and  the  keep- 
er of  the  prison,  who  was  a  very  hard-hearted 
man,  instead  of  dividing  it  among  us,  poured  it 
on  the  ground  in  the  jail  yard,  and  laughed  when 
he  saw  the  prisoners  foil  down  and  lick  up  the 
soup  like  dogs."  "  One  day  I  saw  a  plain  look- 
jjig  Friend  step  up  to  the  prison  door  with  a  pa- 
per in  his  hand,  and  ask  the  turnkey,  *  is  Jacob 
Ritter  in  prison'?  '  There  are  nine  hundred  men 
here,  was  the  answer,  I  don't  know  Jacob  Ritter.' 
I  then  stepped  up,  and  said,  ^  I  am  Jacob  Ritter;' 
he  said  to  me,  '  well,  Jacob  !  what  wouldst  thou 
say,  if  I  should  set  thee  at  liberty?'  I  said,  *  Oh  ! 
Oh  I  I  would  be  very  glad.'  He  then  handed 
the  paper  to  the  turnkey,  who,  looking  at  it,  un-  ^ 
locked  the  iron  gate,  and  said  to  me,  '  there,  now 
begone  about  your  business.'  I  felt  new  life 
spring  IX}.  me,  I  jumped  off  the  steps,  and  went 
to  one  of  my  relations  in  town  ;  but  don't  know 
to  this  day,  the  name  of  the  Friend  who  was  in- 
strumental in  my  release  ;  he  seemed  like  an  an- 
gel that  had  come  to  let  me  out.* 

*  It  is  probable  that  Galloway  and  General  Howe  al- 
lowed some  Friend  to  transact  the  business  for  them  after 
Galloway  had  sijrned  the  petition,  as  mentioned  in  these 
Memoirs,  page  19. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


53 


My  relations  were  very  kind  to  me  and  gave 
rae  food  and  clothing  until  my  strength  returned. 
And  after  I  had  done  what  I  could  in  the  way 
of  bodily  labor  to  reward  them  for  their  kindness, 
I  went  home  to  Springfield,  where  they  were 
all  very  glad  to  see  me,  for  they  thought  I  was 
dead,  but  my  mother  kept  the  faith  and  wouhl 
say,  "  I  shall  see  my  child  again. 

Soon  after  his  removal  to  Philadelphia,  he  wa.^ 
imder  great  exercise  of  mind  concerning  his  reli- 
gious duty,  and  inw^ardly  concerned  in  prayer, 
that  he  might  be  rightly  directed. 

He  said,  while  under  this  exercise  of  mind  I 
had  a  dream  or  vision,  in  which  I  saw  at  some 
distance  before  me  a  temple,  or  strong  tower 
standing  in  the  light ;  while  I  was  looking  and 
wondering  what  it  was,  there  was  one  who  told 
me  "  the  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower, 
the  rio;hteous  flee  thereimto  and  are  safe."  So  I 
got  a  ladder  and  tried  to  get  in  at  the  upper  sto- 
ry, but  I  found  no  entering  place  there.  I 
moved  the  ladder  and  tried  to  get  in  at  the  next 
story  below,  but  found  I  could  not.  I  trieil 
a2:ain  at  the  next  story,  but  still  could  not  get  in. 


MEMOIRS  OF 


I  then  tried  on  a  level  with  the  ground,  and  walk- 
ed all  round  the  tower  but  could  find  no  entering 
place  ;  I  now  began  to  feel  great  uneasiness, 
fearing  I  was  unworthy  and  could  not  get  in  at 
all. 

"  While  I  w^as  musing,  it  sprang  up  clear  in 
my  mind,  that  the  w^ay  to  get  in,  was  to  go 
down  into  the  basement  story,  so  I  went  down 
and  found  the  way  without  difficulty,  and  when 
inside  I  found  there  was  a  w^ay  to  get  up."* 

*  In  relating  this  and  other  instances  of  a  similiar 
kind, he  would  say:  "It  was  a  dream  oi  a  vision,  but  I 
believe  it  was  a  vision."  I  prefer  the  latter  name,  because 
vision  is  a  more  definite  term  than  dream,  and  literally 
means  a  sight  or  perception,  whether  ocular  or  mental.  If 
the  object  of  perception  addresses  itself  to  the  outward 
senses,  we  see  it  with  the  outward  eye,  and  obtain  what 
is  called  ocular  demonstration.  If  it  addresses  itself  to 
the  understanding,  we  examine  it  by  the  mental  eye,  or 
the  eye  of  reason,  and  thus  "we  may  arrive  at  certainty 
in  this,  no  less  than  in  the  former  case.  If  the  object  of 
perception  be  supernatural, or  such  as  our  natural  powers  of 
mind  alone  cannot  comprehend,  we  require  a  superadded 
means  of  vision.  For  what  man  knoweth  the  things 
of  a  man  save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him  1  even 
so  the  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man  but  the  spirit  of 
God."    No  man  could  ever  have  known  anything  more 


JACOB  RITTER. 


55 


Soon  after  this  I  had  many  trials  :  the  offi- 
cers of  the  church  were  roused  up  against  me, 
and  the  members  were  full  of  arguments.  One 
day  as  I  was  passing  through  the  market,  I  met 
one  of  them,  who  was  full  of  zeal ;  he  got  very 
warm,  and  w^as  angry  because  I  went  to  the 
Quakers.  I  thought  he  would  have  struck  me 
in  the  face,  and  this  made  me  also  feel  a  little 
warm,  but  I  happened  to  look  down  and  saw  my 

than  the  thinors  of  man  were  it  not  that  a  measure  of  the 
Divine  spirit  "is  given  to  every  man  to  profit  veithal."  By 
this  spirit  we  have  a  clear  vision  or  perception  concerning 
Divine  things  and  it  reveals  or  makes  known  unto  us 
our  duty  to  God  and  our  fellow-man.  But  dreams  are 
generally  the  reverse  of  all  this,  being  for  the  most  part  of 
a  vague  and  indeterminate  character,  without  clearness 
or  certainty  ;  and  yet  none,  perhaps,  will  call  in  question 
George  Fox's  definition  of  dreams.  He  says  in  sub- 
stance that  they  are  of  three  kinds, viz  :  "The  revelations 
of  the  Divine  Spirit  to  man  in  sleep;  the  workings  of  the 
imagination  when  the  mind  is  overcharged  with  tempor- 
al business,  and  the  temptations  or  whisperings  of  Sa- 
tan." But  it  is  evident  that  a  divine  discernment  or  a 
supernatural  power  of  vision  is  requisite  to  enable  us  to 
make  a  proper  distinction  with  respect  to  those  several 
kinds  of  dreams,  and  the  true  followers  of  Christ  \\\\\ 
doubtless  be  furnished  with  this  necessary  gift,  or  qualifi- 
cation. "  Blessed  are  your  eyes  for  they  see  (or  have 
sound  vision)  and  your  ears  for  they  hear.'WIat.xiii  16.  Ed. 


m 


MEMOIRS  or 


own  list  was  shut,  so  I  passed  away  as  soon  as 
I  could,  and  this  was  a  lesson  for  me  to  take 
care  and  not  get  into  disputes  about  religion." 

One  day  when  I  came  home  from  Friends' 
meeting,  T  found  some  of  the  church  Elders  at 
my  house  ;  they  said  they  came  to  beat  me  out 
of  the  silly  notion  of  going  to  Quaker  meeting : 
they  were  full  of  talk  and  used  many  arguments 
to  prove  that  I  had  better  keep  to  the  ftiith  in 
which  I  had  been  educated  ;  that  1  would  ])e 
greatly  deceived  if  I  went  to  the  Quakers. 

I  said  but  little  as  I  had  no  life  in  disputing, 
so  after  dinner,  I  went  aw^ay  to  lie  dowTi,  leav- 
ing them  to  talk  wuth  my  w^ife.  I  felt  very  much 
tried  because  my  wife  was  troubled,  and  did  not 
like  me  to  go  to  Friends'  meeting,  though  I  had 
been  there  but  a  few  times.  So  I  found  it  would 
be  best  to  say  but  little,  and  try  to  be  still,  and 
had  faith  to  believe  that  a  way  would  be  opened 
for  me  in  the  clearness. 

I  soon  fell  into  a  sound  sleep,  and  just  as  I 
was  waking  up,  I  thought  T  saw  a  grave  looking 
Friend  come  to  my  bedside  and  call  aloud  tome, 
saying,  *  arise  Jacob  and  go  to  meeting,'  it  is 


JACOB  RITTER. 


57 


quite  time,  and  be  not  faithless  but  believing."  I 
jumped  up  quickly,  and  heard  the  clock  strike  four. 
It  was  on  a  first-day  afternoon,  and  the  meeting 
\vas  generally  gathered :  so  I  stepped  into  the 
room,  and  found  the  church  officers  still  talking 
with  my  wife  ;  but  now^  they  began  to  talk  to 
me,  and  when  they  saw  me  take  down  my  hat 
which  was  hanging  on  a  peg,  they  talked  very 
loud.  I  said  nothing  at  all,  but  left  them  and 
walked  off  to  meeting  as  fast  as  I  could,  and 
oh !  what  a  precious  meeting  it  was.  I.  felt  the 
reward  of  sweet  peace  for  obedience. 

"  When  the  elders  of  the  church  found  I  was 
fixed  in  my  mind  to  go  to  Friends'  meetings, 
they  gave  me  up,  and  after  a  while  disowned  me. 
About  this  time,  William  Savery  took  notice  of 
me;  he  would  come  and  sit  by  me,  when  I  was  at 
work,  and  was  a  strength  to  me  ;  I  told  him  I 
now  felt  peace,  and  believed  I  was  safe.  He  said, 
'  Oh  !  Jacob,  thy  work  is  only  pretty  well  be- 
gun yet,  but  keep  in  good  heart,  keep  the  fiiith.' 

"  At  length  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  apply  to  be 
received  into  membership  with  Friends  :  this  was 
a  great  trial  to  me,  I  tried  to  think  it  would 
8 


58 


MEMOIRS  OF  ^ 


be  enough  to  keep  steady  to  meetings,  and  live  an 
orderly  life,  but  I  could  not  feel  easy, — so  I  took 
up  the  cross  and  applied,  and  Friends  sent  a 
committee  to  visit  mi;." 

"  They  came  a  great  many  times  to  see  me, 
but  did  not  say  much,  passing  most  of  the  time 
of  their  visits  in  silence ;  my  ca'-e  was  in  the 
meeting  about  two  years,  so  that  I  was  fearful  I 
was  not  worthy  to  be  a  member.  I  told  William 
Savery  one  day,  *  I  thought  Friends  were  very 
slow;'  he  said,  *  never  mind,  Jacob,  all  is  right 
enough,  keep  the  patience,  thou  art  just  as  well 
off  as  if  thou  wast  a  member.' 

When  Friends  informed  me  I  was  a  member, 
and  invited  me  to  meetings  for  discipline,  I 
thought,  surely  my  work  was  done,  that  I  had 
now  got  into  the  tower  I  saw  in  my  vision.  I 
attended  meetings  diligently,  and  felt  great  in- 
ward peace." 

"  One  day,  while  sitting  in  a  meeting  of  wor- 
ship, I  felt  a  fcw  words  spring  up  in  my  mind  to 
speak;  but  I  hi  in  the  reasoner,  and  pleaded 
within  myself  that  I  was  very  ignorant,  and 


JACOB  RITTER. 


59 


was  imperfect  in  the  English  language.  So  I 
put  it  by,  but  oh  I  the  darkness  and  horror  that 
took  hold  of  my  mind ;  I  felt  the  terrors  of  the 
Lord  for  disobedience,  and  was  fearful  I  was 
now  forsaken,  and  should  no  more  feel  the  re- 
ward of  obedience:  I  cried  inwardly  to  the 
Lord,  that  if  he  would  not  forsake  me,  I  would 
be  more  faithful  in  time  to  come.  So  one  day 
while  sitting  on  the  back  seat  in  the  Bank  meet- 
ing, my  good  Master  came  to  me  again,  and  gave 
me  a  few  words  to  speak.  I  felt  very  fearful — 
nature  began  to  shrink,  and  my  heart  seemed  to 
come  up  in  my  mouth,  and  I  trembled  ;  but  af- 
ter a  while,  I  stood  up  and  said  a  word  or  two, 
and  the  people  began  to  look  hack,  hack,  all  over 
the  house  at  me,  to  see  where  the  words  came  from, 
and  it  frightened  me  so  that  I  poured  it  on  them 
in  Dutch." 

"  When  the  meeting  was  over,  I  went  away 
as  soon  as  I  could,  and  kept  out  of  sight  for  a 
while  as  much  as  possible,  but  one  day  I  saw 
two  young  men  getting  into  a  gig,  who  laughed 
out  loud,  and  said,  "  there  goes  the  man  that 
preached  to  us  in  Dutch;" — so  I  felt  discouraged, 
but  William  Savery  came  to  see  me,  and  said, 


60 


MEMOIRS  OF 


'  Jacob,  thou  preaches  to  us  in  Dutch,  cans't  thou 
not  preach  in  English,  we  can't  understand 
Dutch  I  said  '  my  Enghsh  is  very  imperfect,' 
he  said, '  but  thou  can  try  Jacob,  I  want  thee 
next  time  to  try  and  preach  in  Enghsh  as  well  as 
thou  can.'  '  So  the  next  time  Isphoke  so  well  as 
I  coot,  part  Tutch  and  part  English.^  Oh  !  what 
comfort  I  felt ;  Friends  were  very  kind  to  me  ; 
they  did  not  tell  me  not  to  speak  at  all,  which  I 
expected,  but  told  me  to  do  as  well  as  I  could, 
and  I  received  great  encouragement  from  time  to 
time  from  William  Savery." 

It  appears  from  his  Journal  that  in  the  spring 
of  1794,  he  removed  with  his  motherless  child- 
ren to  Springfield,  (the  place  of  his  nativity,) 
hoping  his  trials  would  be  less  in  a  retired  part 
of  the  country  than  in  the  large  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, where  his  children  were  much  exposed 
to  many  temptations  ;  though,  as  he  frequently 
said,  he  was  well  aware  that  his  prospects  and 
profits  in  business  at  this  time,  would  be  likely 
to  suffer  loss  by  his  removal. 

He  added  further,  "  my  trials  were  many  both 
outwardly  and  in  a  spiritual  sense  ;  several  good 


JACOB  RITTER. 


61 


horses  that  I  had  died  one  after  another,  besides 
many  other  losses  I  met  with,  so  that  I  had  a 
great  deal  to  do  with  the  wheelbarrow  and  the 
grubbing  hoe.  I  had  also  to  walk  five  miles  to 
meeting. 

I  was  for  several  years  much  discouraged,  but 
as  I  kept  humble  and  low,  trusting  to  the  care 
of  my  Divine  master,  I  was  preserved  from  mur- 
muring. So,  after  some  years,  my  circumstances 
began  to  mend,  and  I  believed  in  the  truth  of  the 
Apostle's  testimony,  that  "  bodily  exercise  pro- 
fiteth  httle  :  but  godliness  is  profitable  unto  all 
things,  having  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is, 
and  of  that  which  is  to  come."* 

The  following  occurrence  may  perhaps  be  in- 
serted in  this  place. 

During  the  sittings  of  one  of  our  Yearly  Meet- 
ings, he  attended  at  one  of  the  houses  opened  for 
public  worship  on  fifth-day — the  house  w^as 
crowded.  The  time  of  the  meeting  was  occu- 
pied by  two  Friends  in  the  ministry  who  in- 
dulged in  tiresome  repetitions,  evidently  to  the 
disadvantage  and  unsettlement  of  the  meeting. 
Jacob  was  very  much  tried.  After  meeting,  on 
going  to  a  Friend's  house,  he  found  a  large  com- 
*  1  Tim.  iv.  8, 


62 


MEMOIRS  OF 


pany,  and  the  two  preachers  above  alluded  to. 
The  latter  had  heard  of  Jacob  Ritter  and  were 
desirous  to  see  him,  and  to  be  informed  of  some 
of  the  singular  events  of  his  life  from  his  own 
lips.  After  dinner,  the  company  being  collected, 
he  related  some  anecdotes  that  attracted  great 
attention,  and,  keeping  to  his  exercise  about  the 
meeting  in  the  morning,  proceeded  as  follows  : 

"  After  I  had  passed  through  many  exercises 
and  deep  provings  in  the  army,  way  was  made 
for  me  gradually,  until  I  became  a  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends ;  then  I  thought  I  had 
got  to  the  root,  and  foundation,  and  spring  of  life, 
but  I  found  I  wanted  experimental  knowledge  ; 
so  I  had  to  pass  through  the  furnace  again,  and 
I  had  many  trials  and  deep  provings.  My  wife 
died,  and  I  w^ent  with  my  little  motherless  child- 
ren into  the  country  and  began  farming,  where  I 
endured  many  hardships. 

I  cleared  a  piece  of  new  land,  and  found  a 
great  deal  of  rubbish  on  it.  I  cut  down  the  trees 
and  hauled  them  olT,  but  had  to  leave  the  stumps 
and  the  long  roots  in  the  ground.  I  had  a  great 
deal  to  do  with  my  grubbing  hoe  to  dig  up  the 


JACOB  RITTER. 


63 


bushes  and  the  underwood,  and  ploughed  my 
land  as  well  as  I  could. 

I  have  thought  sometimes  a  farmer  may  learn 
a  great  deal  in  a  spiritual  sense,  for  our  hearts 
must  be  cleared  of  a  great  deal  of  rubbish  before 
they  are  fit  to  receive  the  good  seed  of  the  king- 
dom. Now  after  I  had  ploughed  and  harrowed 
my  land,  I  sowed  it  with  good  seed,  and  it  soon 
sprung  up :  bnt  my  work  was  not  yet  done,  for 
I  had  to  watch  it,  and  fence  it  in.  My  land  pro- 
duced well,  and  I  felt  thankful. 

As  I  could  see  several  days  before  harvest 
when  my  grain  would  be  ripe,  I  went  out  and 
engaged  my  reapers ;  I  fixed  the  day  when 
they  should  come  and  reap  down  my  harvest ; 
so  we  reaped  it  and  bound  it  up,  and  shocked  it, 
and  I  had  a  good  crop,  and  after  it  had  stood  a 
while  in  the  shock  to  season,  we  hauled  it  to  the 
barn  and  put  it  away  ;  we  gleaned  it  with  the 
rake,  and  hauled  in  the  gleanings,  and  threshed 
them  out :  JS'ow  if  I  had  told  my  reapers  to  go 
and  reap  my  field  again,  they  would  have  thought 
I  was  crazy P* 

*  The  lesson  inculcated  in  this  instance  is  similar  to 
the  pithy  advice  given  by  a  distinguished  person,  the 


64 


MEMOIRS  OF' 


The  hint  appeared  to  be  well  understood  ;  all 
could  comprehend  that  there  was  a  reference  to 
the  occurrences  of  the  morning ;  the  force  of  the 
application  was  the  more  sensibly  felt  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  kept  in  reserve  for  the  last  words 
while  the  story  was  related  in  free  and  pleasant 
conversation,  and  all  were  waiting  attentively 
to  learn  what  he  would  make  of  his  farming  an- 
ecdote. 

Jacob  Ritter  seldom  travelled  long  journeys 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  but  whenever  it 
was  required  he  cheerfully  gave  up  his  time  to 
the  service  of  Truth.  He  was  a  diligent  attender 
of  meetings  both  for  worship  and  discipline,  and, 
while  industrious  in  his  outward  calling,  his  pri- 

late  John  Witherspoon,  when  principal  of  Princeton  Col- 
lege, to  several  students  who  had  completed  their  educa- 
tion,and  were  about  to  receive  his  farewell  address  on  their 
leaving- school  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  their  seveial 
professions.  He  said  to  them,  "Boys,  I  foresee  that 
some  of  you  will  become  distinguished  in  the  pulpit  and 
others  at  the  bar.  In  relation  to  public  speaking,  I  have 
one  charge  to  give  you  which  T  hope  you  will  alw  ays  care 
fully  observe,  that  is,  before  you  speak,  be  sure  you  have 
something  to  say,  and  always  mind  to  stop  when  you 
are  done." 


JACOB  HITTER. 


65 


mary  concern  was  to  seek  first  the  "  kingdom  of 
God  and  his  righteousness.'' 

While  he  resided  at  Springfield,  he  accompani- 
ed James  Simpson  on  a  religious  visit.  On  their 
return  home,  James  appointed  a  meeting  at 
Easton  :  they  put  up  at  a  public  house,  and  Ja- 
cob undertook  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
meeting  ;  for  this  purpose  the  court  house  was 
obtained,  though  not  without  some  opposition 
from  one  influential  individual. 

James,  who  was  probably  aware  that  there 
had  been  some  difficulty  about  the  meeting,  and 
seeing  the  people  assemble  in  crowds,  became 
very  much  depressed  ;  he  sat  for  a  while  in  the 
chimney  corner,  questioning  the  rectitude  of  his 
proceeding  in  appointing  the  meeting  :  in  this 
state  of  feeling,  he  ordered  his  horse  to  be  put  to 
the  carriage,  and,  like  the  prophet  Jonah,  was 
going  to  flee  from  the  word  of  the  Lord. 

At  this  critical  juncture,  Jacob  arrived  and  in- 
quired of  the  ostler,  *what  does  this  mean  V  The 
reply  was, — "  the  gentleman  ordered  his  horse," 
"  well,  I  order  him  back  again,"  said  Jacob.  The 
.  9 


66 


MEMOIRS  OF 


horse  was  put  away,  and  when  Jacob  walked  in, 
he  found  James,  who  was  under  a  great  weight 
of  exercise,  preparing  to  go ;  he  was  very  glad 
to  see  Jacob,  and  wished  him  to  take  charge  of 
the  meeting. 

Jacob  said,  "that  wont  do,  James,  but  thou  must 
go  to  the  meeting  thou  hast  appointed,  and  I 
will  go  with  thee."  James  said  "  thou  must  do 
the  preaching  then,  for  I  cannot."  Jacob  replied, 
"  never  mind  about  the  preaching,  nobody  has 
asked  thee  to  preach,  but  let  us  go  to  meeting, 
that  is  the  first  thing  to  be  done." 

James  went  in  great  fear  and  trembling,  and 
Jacob  felt  brotherly  sympathy  with  him;  for 
some  time,  James  sat  with  his  head  bowed  almost 
to  his  knees ;  but  at  length  light  sprang  up, 
and  he  was  enabled  to  proclaim  the  truth  in  the 
demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  great  power, 
and  the  meeting  concluded  under  a  solemn  cov- 
ering. 

The  individual  who  had  thrown  difficulty  in 
the  way  of  appointing  the  meeting,  was  now 
so  changed  in  his  feelings  that  he  gave  the 


JACOB  RITTER. 


67 


Friends  a  pressing  invitation  to  dine  with 
him ;  but  Jacob  said,  "  no,  thee  throwed  cold 
water  on  this  concern  in  the  beginning,  and  now 
we  must  go  to  the  public  house  for  our  dinner.'* 

After  dinner  they  passed  quietly  away,  "  re- 
joicing for  the  consolation"*  which  they  felt  for 
this  little  act  of  dedication,  and  when  they  had 
ascended  an  eminence  out  of  sight  of  the  peo- 
ple but  within  full  view  of  the  town,  James 
stopped  his  carriage,  and,  looking  back,  exclaim- 
ed, "  Oh !  Easton,  Easton,  thou  hast  had  a 
broad-side  to-day."  Jacob  replied,  "  Ah  !  thou 
can  brag  now,  but  remember  how  it  was  a  while 
ago  in  that  chimney  corner." 

In  the  spring  of  1812,  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Plymouth  ;  he  had  been  in  search  of  a 
place  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  seeking 
after  the  mind  of  truth  in  so  important  a  step 
as  a  change  of  residence.  He  at  length  agreed 
with  Thomas  Corson,  and  purchased  his  farm, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Plymouth  meeting 
house. 


*  Acts  15.  31. 


68 


MEMOIRS  OF 


Thomas  removed  to  Whiteland  in  Chester 
county,  and  soon  after  he  and  his  wife  joined  with 
Friends  and  became  valuable  members  of  our 
Society.  From  remarks  made  by  Thomas  Cor- 
son, it  is  believed  that  his  intercourse  with  Jacob 
Ritter  on  this  occasion,  and  the  strong  impres- 
sion which  he  received  of  the  sterling  integrity 
and  uprightness  of  the  latter,  were  means  of 
awakening  convictions  in  his  mind,  and  of  indu- 
cing him  to  look  towards  being  united  in 
church  fellowship  with  Friends. 

During  the  time  of  his  residence  at  Plymouth, 
Jacob  Ritter  attended  an  appointed  meeting 
on  a  first-day  afternoon  in  a  neighbourhood  of 
Germans  in  Toaraensing,  about  fourteen  miles 
from  his  home  ;  here  a  large  number  of  aged 
people,  mostly  Germans,  attended,  many  of  whom 
understood  but  little  Enghsh. 

After  a  time  of  silence,  he  stood  up  and  recited 
in  Dutch  a  few  words  from  the  scriptures. — 
Here,  as  in  the  case  of  Paul  when  he  spoke  in 
the  Hebrew  language,  the  people  kept  the  more 
silence.  He  spoke  for  a  long  time  fluently,  and 
pathetically  ;  some  who  understood  him  said  it 


JACOB  RITTER. 


69 


was  the  most  eloquent  and  impressive  discourse 
they  had  ever  heard.  He  was  evidently  not 
under  any  difficulty  and  embarrassment  for 
words,  as  was  frequently  the  case  when  he 
spoke  in  English.  His  communication,  a  por- 
tion of  which  had  reference  to  his  sufferings  in 
the  army  and  from  which  he  took  occasion  to  de- 
scribe the  horrors  of  war,  drew  tears  copiously 
from  many  eyes  apparently  unaccustomed  to  shed 
them.  After  the  meeting  had  concluded,  the  old 
Germans,  men  and  women,  gathered  round  him 
and  conversed  with,  him  freely  and  affectionately 
in  their  mother  tongue. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  a  very  zealous  profes- 
sor of  religion  remarked  to  Jacob  "  that  the 
world  of  mankind  had  lapsed  into  a  state  of 
great  degeneracy,  that  many  thousands  were 
hurled  into  the  vortex  of  eternal  ruin ;  that  the 
Lord  had  a  harvest,  and  the  harvest  was  great,  but 
the  laborers  were  few  The  few,  he  said,  were 
too  idle  ;  it  was  high  time  they  should  be  up,  and 
a  doing,  up  and  a  doings  doing,  domg  I  that  he 
saw  clearly  the  blood  of  the  ruined  would  be 
upon  the  heads  of  the  idle  laborers." 


70 


MEMOIRS  OF 


"  Ah !"  said  Jacob,  "  we  are  in  great  danger 
of  running  where  we  are  not  sent ;  of  doing  that 
which  we  ought  not  to  do ;  and  of  leaving  un- 
done that  which  w^e  ought  to  do.  Our  salvation 
depends  upon  a  true  and  Hving  faith  in  the  son 
of  God,  w^ho  said,  '  ye  are  my  friends  if  you  do 
whatsoever  things  I  command  you.'  He  surely 
knows  best  what  we  should  do,  and  when  we 
should  do  it :  this  has  always  been  the  doctrine 
of  Friends.  Now  suppose  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest calls  a  man  to  reap  in  his  harvest  on  a  given 
day  ;  but  he  who  is  thus  called  thinks  it  is  a 
weighty  matter  and  has  a  great  many  things  to 
do  first,  and,  like  Martha,  is  cumbered  about  much 
serving ;  so  he  lets  the  right  time  slip.  By  and 
by,  he  shoulders  his  sickle  and  goes  out  into 
the  field  after  harvest,  what  is  he  then  to  do? 
he  can  only  reap  stubble.  But  suppose  he  is  a 
very  doing  man,  and  he  takes  his  scythe  and  cra- 
dle and  goes  into  the  field  before  the  Lord  of 
the  harvest  had  told  him  to  go,  and  he  tashes  in" 
to  the  wheat  before  it  is  ripe,  he  toze  mishtuf, 
and  the  Lord  says  to  him,  "  where  are  thy  orders, 
who  hath  required  this  thing  at  thy  hands  ?" 
The  professor  was  silenced,  having  met  with  a 


JACOB  RITTER. 


71 


mouth  and  wisdom  that  he  could  not  gainsay  nor 
resist. 

He  related  to  a  friend,  some  years  ago,  the  fol- 
lowing :  "  one  day,  I  had  some  difficulty  with  one 
of  my  neighbours,  and  he  let  in  hardness  towards 
me,  so  that  he  would  not  speak  when  we  met, 
and  he  would  not  shake  hands  with  me.  I  felt 
very  much  cast  down  and  distressed  in  my  mind 
both  day  and  night ;  so  I  cried  inwardly  to  the 
Lord  for  deliverance  out  of  this  state,  and  that 
the  unity  and  good  fealings  between  us  might  be 
restored.  One  day,  as  I  was  sitting  in  meeting 
waiting  in  silence  on  the  Lord,  he  put  it  into 
my  heart  to  go  to  the  man  as  soon  as  meeting 
ended ;  so  before  I  had  spoken  to  any  one,  or 
had  eaten  or  drank  I  went  in  the  faith  and  found 
my  neighbor  alone  in  the  barn,  threshing.  He 
threw  down  his  flail  and  looked  very  much  sur- 
prised :  we  both  stood  still  for  some  time,  until 
tears  began  to  run  down  my  face  ;  he  then  shed 
tears  also.  I  told  him  of  the  great  distress  I  had 
felt  day  and  night ;  he  said  it  had  been  the  case 
■with  him  too  ;  so  we  made  friends,  and  the  unity 
was  never  again  broken,  for  afterwards,  when 
we  met,  we  always  had  good  feelings." 


MEMOins  OF 


He  related  an  occurrence,  in  reference  to  treat- 
ing with  offenders,  that  should  be  handed  down 
to  posterity.  He  said,  "  a  Friend  committed  a 
breach  against  the  good  order  and  discipline  of 
the  Society,  and  justified  himself  in  his  offence. 
A  committee  were  appointed  to  wait  on  him, 
but  he  was  full  of  arguments  in  defence  of  his  con- 
duct— a  party  was  forming  in  the  monthly  meet- 
ing, for  he  went  about  telling  what  he  had  said 
and  what  the  committee  had  said,  and  some 
thought  one  thing,  and  some  another.  I  felt  my 
mind  drawn  in  love  and  life  to  go  with  the  com- 
mittee to  see  him.  Knowing  very  well  that  he 
would  fortify  himself  with  arguments  against 
every  thing  that  could  be  said  to  him,  I  told 
Friends  that  we  were  going  to  meet  with  a 
crooket  spharet,  (crooked  spirit)  that  never  could 
be  overcome  with  words,  so  we  must  all  be  silent, 
and  say  nothing  about  the  man's  offence,  for  he 
knows  very  well  what  we  are  coming  for.  All  he 
wants  is  for  us  to  begin,  and  he  will  match  it  at 
once  ;  but  if  he  begins,  let  us  help  him  out  his 
own  way  as  well  as  we  can  in  brotherly  kind- 
ness ;  but  if  we  cannot,  let  us  all  be  silent.  So  j 
we  went  to  see  him,  and  he  invited  us  into  a 
room,  and  we  all  sat  in  solemn  silence  together, 


JACOB  RITTER.  73 

until  he  became  very  uneasy  and  restless.  We 
then  conversed  about  other  matters,  and  after- 
wards walked  out,  looked  at  his  farm,  and  talked 
friendly  together.    So  we  came  in  and  took  tea, 
and  after  tea  we  sat  in  silence,  in  a  feeling  and 
tender  state.    We  then  concluded  to  order  our 
horses  and  go,  but  he  said,  "  Friends,  not  so,  it 
is  too  late.'*    So  we  consented  and  stayed  all 
night,  and  in  the  morning,  after  breakfast,  we  sat 
down  again  in  solemn  silence,  and  were  all  much 
tendered  together.    When  w^e  had  bid  the  family 
farewell,  and  had  mounted  our  horses,  he  called 
us  back,  and  said,  "  Friends,!  am  conquered  ;  for 
I  could  not  sleep  last  night.   I  had  nothing  but  my 
conscience  to  war  with,  and  it  continually  re- 
proached me  with  having  done  wrong.    Oh ! 
Friends,  I  am  willing  to  make  any  acknowledg- 
ment, if  it  will  only  atone  for  the  evil  I  have 
done."    I  told  him  he  had  not  much  acknowl- 
edgment to  make  to  Friends  ;  if  he  could  only 
make  peace  with  his  heavenly  father,  a  very  lit- 
tle would  satisfy  Friends.  So  we  went  back  again, 
and  he  wrote  an   acknowledgment  which  we 
thought  was  more  than  enough,  and  when  it  was 
made  right,  we  parted  in  much  tenderness,  and 
he  gave  the  paper  to  the  monthly  meeting.  It 
10 


74 


MEMOIRS  OF 


was  freely  accepted,  and  peace  and  harmony  AvaS 
restored  among  Friends." 

On  one  occasion  during  harvest  time,  on  which 
account  probably  the  meeting  was  unusually 
small,  and  Friends  were  very  drowsy,  Jacob 
stood  up,  and  impressively  cried  outj  "  Friends, 
we  must  try  to  keep  one  another  awake,  or  else 
we  shall  lose  the  life.  To  lose  the  life  would  be 
losing  everything ;  the  life  is  more  than  meat, 
and  the  body  than  raiment."  Friends  felt  the 
force  of  this  brief  exhortation,  and  the  meeting 
was  refreshed  and  enlivened. 

During  the  Yearly  meeting  of  1827,  Friends 
met  in  Green  Street  meeting-house  to  deliberate 
on  the  state  of  Society  and  to  adopt  such  mea* 
sures  as,  in  the  wisdom  of  truth,  might  appear 
suitable  to  extricate  the  body  from  the  embar- 
rassments into  which  it  had  been  thrown,  occa- 
sioned by  the  rash  and  intolerant  conduct  of 
some  of  its  members. 

The  following  statement  relative  to  this  event, 
furnished  by  a  Friend,  is  here  introduced  without 
further  comment : 


JACOB  RITTER. 


75 


"  A  short  time  after  the  Yearly  meeting  in 
1827,  Jacob  Ritter  informed  a  Friend,  that  in 
said  meeting  he  could  not  hear  ^vhat  was  said, 
(his  hearing  being  heavy,)  but  he  could  feel  that 
things  were  not  right,  that  he  was  deeply  tried, 
and  in  his  distress  remembered  his  younger  years, 
his  education  in  the  Lutheran  church,  his  con- 
vincement  and  the  feelings  which  induced  him  to 
join  this  society  ;  that  in  so  doing,  he  had  sacri- 
ficed much,  endured  many  trials,  and  offended  the 
friends  of  his  youth,  hoping  and  believing  that 
he  would  here  find  a  place  of  rest,  a  refuge  from 
the  storm  until  the  close  of  his  days.  But  he 
now  felt  that  his  hopes  and  expectations  were 
gone,  that  the  bond  of  unity  was  broken,  and 
that  he  had  no  further  interest  with  this  people." 

He  i-^flected  with  melancholy  feelings  on  his 
disappointment,  and  lost  estate  ;  being,  as  he  ap- 
prehended, now  left  alone  and  turned  out  in  his 
old  age  like  a  pelican  in  the  wilderness,  or  a 
sparrow  upon  the  house  top,  with  no  society  that 
he  could  unite  with  in  religious  fellowship. — 
Looking  over  the  house,  he  concluded  that  he 
could  never  come  into  it  any  more,  and,  on  the 
rising  of  the  meeting,  he  went  out  and  sauntered 


MEMOIRS  OF 


along  the  street,  until  he  arrived  at  a  Friend's 
house.  Upon  going  in,  he  found  the  family  at 
tea  and  sat  down  with  them,  but  could  not  eat ; 
he  therefore  arose  from  the  table,  and  again  walk- 
ed the  streets  for  some  time,  in  deep  distress. — 
Coming  to  another  Friend's  door,  and  finding  it 
open  he  walked  in ;  observing  Friends  putting 
on  their  coats,  he  inquired  where  they  were 
going.  One  of  them  answered,  "  to  Green  Street 
meeting-house  :"  he  asked  "  what  for  ?"  and  was 
told  that  the  state  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  had 
become  so  trying,  and  the  Society  involved  in  so 
much  difficulty,  that  many  Friends  thought  it 
right  to  assemble  there  in  order  to  seek  for  a 
right  opening,  and  to  determine  the  proper 
course  to  be  pursued  under  those  affecting  cir- 
cumstances. On  being  asked  if  he  w^ould  accom- 
pany them,  he  replied,  "  I  will  go,"  remarking  at 
the  same  time,  that  they  did  not  know  his  feel- 
ings, nor  what  he  had  been  thinking  of.  He  ac- 
cordingly went  and  sat  down  with  them  in  silence; 
and,  in  a  short  time,  felt  the  same  power  to  over- 
shadow him,  and  the  same  concern  and  unity  of 
feehng  which  first  drew  him  to  join  this  Society, 
and  the  evidence  was  so  clear,  that  there  was  no 
room  for  doubt." 


JACOB  RITTER. 


He  also  also  added  that  at  the  Quarterly 
meeting  at  Horsham,  a  committee  from  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  appointed  by  a  party  out  of  the 
unity,  attended,  and  introduced  great  difficulty 
and  confusion.  Jacob  said  he  sat  altogether 
quiet  and  easy  in  his  mind,  under  a  full  assurance 
that  the  meeting  would  sustain  its  standing  and 
testimonies,  that  he  had  seen  to  the  end  of  the 
spirit  of  strife  and  confusion,  and  that  truth 
would  have  the  victory. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  interesting  meet- 
ing, Jacob  observed,  "  these  trials  are  not 
new  to  me.  I  have  passed  through  the  furnace 
before  and  came  out  unhurt,  and  now  I  am  ready 
to  pass  through  it  again:  this  is  the  same  spirit  of 
orthodoxy  that  got  up  in  the  church  to  which  I 
once  belonged,  and  disowned  me  ;  it  always  did 
and  always  will  persecute  the  true  seed,  for  its 
enmity  is  with  the  cross  of  Christ." 

At  a  meeting  in  the  sixth-month  following, 
held  in  the  same  house,  he  expressed  his  faith  in 
the  Divine  power  that  would  deliver  Friends  out 
of  all  their  trials.  He  added,  "  Friends  should 
always  be  faithful  to  the  truth,  and  never  shrink 


•78 


MEMOIRS  OF 


from  it,  though  all  the  powers  of  the  world 
should  rise  up  against  them."  He  also  warned 
Friends  of  the  danger  of  entering  into  conten- 
tions about  faith  and  doctrine,  as  the  spirit  above 
alluded  to  was  endeavouring  to  draw  them  into 
it  to  their  hurt. 


As  this  work  may  fall  into  the  hands  of  per- 
sons not  in  religious  profession  with  Friends,  a 
brief  explanation  of  the  causes  that  produced 
the  separation  here  alluded  to,  may  not  be  out  of 
place  in  these  Memoirs,  This  cannot  be  better 
done,  perhaps,  than  by  presenting  to  the  reader, 
the  following  extracts  from  epistles  issued  by  our 
Yearly  Meeting  in  reference  to  this  event.  It 
may  be  proper  to  add  that  the  Society  of  Friends 
recognises  but  one  rule  of  action  as  the  funda- 
mental law,  or  principle  of  Christianity,  viz  :  the 
influence  of  Divine  grace,  or  the  spirit  of  Christ 
Jesus  dwelling  in^  and  operating  upon  the  hearts 
of  men.  It  maintains,  agreeably  to  the  testimo- 
ny of  scripture,  that  this  Divine  influence  is  the 
gift  of  God,  freely  dispensed  to  every  member  of 
the  human  family ;  and  that  by  a  conformity  of 
life  to  the  dictates  of  this  heavenly  monitor  and 
guide,  Christ  within,  the  hope  of  glory,  the 


JACOB  RITTER. 


79 


Christian  character  is  attained. ;  the  work  of  sal- 
^  Htion  is  accomplished  ;  and  by  no  other  means. 

This  doctrine,  so  plain,  so  rational,  so  com- 
prehensive, and,  at  the  same  time,  so  scriptural,  is, 
and  has  always  been,  the  distinguishing  tenet  of 
Quakerism.  And  whatever  may  have  been  their 
former  relations  to  the  Society,  all  who  have,  in 
any  degree,  abandoned  this  simple  groimd  of  be- 
lief by  attempting  to  introduce  and  establish 
other  and  supernumerary  views  of  Christian  ob=- 
ligation,  have  justly  forfeited  their  claim  to  the 
title  of  Friends.  To  an  obvious  defection  of  this 
kind,  as  well  as  to  the  causes  specified  in  the  fol- 
lowmg  extracts,  may  be  traced  the  recent  diffi- 
culties in  our  Society,  and  the  origin  of  a  disaf- 
fected party  since  known  by  the  name  of  Ortho* 
dox  Friends.  This  name  it  has  received,  in  view 
of  its  former  standing  as  a  portion  of  the  Socie- 
ty of  Friends  ;  and  its  present  position,  as  having 
embraced  some  points  of  doctrine,  and  especially 
the  outward  views  of  Christian  redemption  es- 
teemed by  religious  denominations  generally  as 
fundamental  andorthodox*  This  body,  since  its 
organization,  has,  from  time  to  time,instituted  and 
propagated  a  variety  of  charges  denunciatory  of 


MEMOIRS  OP 


the  Christian  standing  of  Friends.  Thisjhowever, 
was  to  be  expected  from  the  new  character  which 
it  had  assumed.  To  these  charges,  allusion  is 
made  in  the  extracts  here  given.  In  an  epistle 
issued  in  the  fourth-month  1829,  addressed  "  to 
the  members  of  the  religious  society  of  Friends 
on  the  continent  of  America  and  elsewhere," 
the  late  division  in  onr  Society,  and  the  causes 
which  led  to  it,  are  thus  briefly  adverted  to :  "It 
is  a  subject  of  public  notoriety,  that  a  division 
has  taken  place  in  our  religious  society,  accom- 
panied by  circumstances  to  which  we  reluctantly 
advert ;  but  we  apprehend  ourselves  called  upon 
to  do  so,  inasmuch  as  charges  have  been  prefer- 
red against  us,  implicating  our  character  as  a 
Christian  people,  by  those  who  once  stood  con- 
nected with  us  in  religious  fellowship. 

The  events  to  which  we  allude  have  had  their 
origin,  as  we  believe,  in  the  same  prohfic  cause  of 
evil  that  has  so  often  agitated  the  Christian 
world — a  lust  after  power  and  pre-eminence  in 
the  church.  Our  religious  society  had  long  re- 
cognised in  its  disciplinary  regulations,  and  in 
its  practice,  those  excellent  precepts  of  Chris- 
tian fellowship  and  brotherly  feeling,  which  the 


JACOB  RITTER. 


81 


blessed  Jesus  laid  down  for  the  observance  of 
his  disciples,  when  he  said,  "  Ye  know  that  the 
princes  of  the  Gentiles  exercise  dominion  over 
them,  and  they  that  are  great  exercise  authority 
upon  them,  but  it  shall  not  be  so  among  you,  but 
whosoever  will  be  great  among  you  let  him  be 
your  minister,  and  whosoever  will  be  chief  among 
you  let  him  be  your  servant."  Matthew,  xx. 
25.  And  again,  "  Be  not  ye  called  Rabbi,  for 
one  is  your  master,  even  Christ,  and  all  ye  are 
brethern.'' — ^latthew,  xxiii.  8.  As  long  as 
these  commands  were  respected,  and  adhered  to 
in  practice,  harmony  prevailed  among  the  mem- 
bers of  the  society — their  violation  was  follow- 
ed by  discord  and  confusion. 

Some  influential  individuals,  long  occupying 
conspicuous  stations  in  the  church,  disregarding 
these  precepts,  found  means  to  extend,  from  thne 
to  time,  their  power,  and  combining  together,  ar- 
rogated an  authority  over  their  fellow-members 
incompatible  with  their  civil  and  rehgious  rights. 
This  authority  once  assumed,  pretexts  were  soon 
found  for  its  exercise,  and  hence  an  arbitrary 
rule  of  ihe  few  over  the  many  was  openly  advo- 
cated and  practically  enforced.  When  men  feel 
11 


83 


MEMOIRS  OF 


power,  and  forget  right,  no  precautions  avail  to 
prevent  abuses.  Neither  our  long  established 
practice,  nor  our  excellent  discipline,  could  arrest 
the  progress  of  this  evil — the  bonds  of  unioL 
were  burst  asunder,  and  a  division  of  the  society 
became  inevitable. 

In  order  to  justify  the  course  pursued,  and 
cover  the  misrule  that  has  thus  divided  the  body, 
misrepresentation  has,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases, 
been  resorted  to.  Books  and  pamphlets  have 
been  issued  from  the  press,  and  industriously  cir- 
culated, impeaching  our  character  as  a  Christian 
people  I — some  of  them  sanctioned  by  bodies  pro- 
fessing to  be  Yearly  Meetings  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  On  the  present  occasion  let  it  suffice  to 
declare,  that  these  high  charges  preferred  against 
us,  are  destitute  of  any  foundation  in  truth." 

From  an  epistle  addressed  by  our  Yearly 
Meeting  to  that  of  Friends  in  London,  the  fol- 
lowing is  extracted: 

"  We  are  aware  that  our  opponents  have  pro- 
nounced us  infidels  and  deists !  They  have  said 
we  have  departed  from  the  Christian  faith,  and, 


JACOB  RITTER. 


83 


renounced  the  religion  of  our  worthy  predeces- 
sors in  the  Truth.  Nothing  is  easier  than  to 
make  such  charges  as  these  ;  but  in  the  present 
case  we  are  happily  assured  that  nothing  is 
harder  than  to  prove  them.  We  are  not  sensi- 
ble of  any  dereliction  on  our  part  from  the  prin- 
ciples laid  down  by  our  blessed  Lord.  The  his- 
tory of  the  birth,  hfe,  acts,  death  and  resurrec- 
tion of  the  Holy  Jesus,  as  in  the  volume  of  the 
Book  it  is  written  of  him,  we  reverently  believe. 
We  are  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
because  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to 
all  them  that  believe ;  neither  do  we  hesitate  to 
acknowledge  the  Divinity  of  its  author,  because 
we  know  from  living  experience,  that  he  is  the 
power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God  ;  that, 
under  the  present  glorious  dispensation,  he  is  the 
one  holy  principle  of  Divine  life  and  light ;  the 
unlimited  icord  of  grace  and  truth,  which  only 
can  build  us  up  in  the  true  faith,  and  give  us  an 
inheritance  among  all  those  who  are  sanctified ; 
neither  are  we  sensible  of  any  departure  from 
the  faith  or  principles  of  our  primitive  Friends. 

"  The  charges  brought  against  us  by  our  op- 
posers,  to  injure  and  invalidate  our  character  as  a 


84  MEMOIRS  OF 

Christian  people,  are  the  same  that  were  prefer- 
red against  our  primitive  Friends,  and,  we  ap- 
prehend, upon  the  same  grounds.  In  that  day, 
those  who,  Hke  Diotrephes,  loved  to  have  the 
pre-eminence,  could  not  bear  to  see  a  people  ri- 
sing up  and  bearing  testimony  to  the  truth  and 
practical  importance  of  that  humbling  doctrine  ; 
*  Be  not  ye  called  Rabbi,  for  one  is  your  master, 
even  Christ ;  and  all  ye  are  brethren.'  (Matt. 
23  c,  8v.)  We  do  not  believe  that  the  dissen- 
sions which  have  appeared  amongst  us  had  their 
origin  so  much  in  differences  of  opinion  in  doc- 
trinal points,  as  in  a  disposition,  apparent  hi 
some,  to  exercise  an  oppressive  authority  in  the 
Church.  These,  in  our  meetings  for  discipline, 
although  a  small  minority  of  the  whole,  assumed 
the  power  to  direct  a  course  of  measures,  painful 
to  the  feelings,  and  contrary  to  the  deliberate 
judgment  of  their  brethren.  Thus  the  few 
usurped  a  power  over  the  many,  subversive  to 
our  established  order,  and  destructive  to  the 
peace  and  harmony  of  society.  After  long  and 
patient  forbearance,  in  the  hope  that  our  oppo- 
sing brethren  might  see  the  impropriety  of  such 
a  course,  the  great  body  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
saw  no  way  to  regain  a  state  of  tranquillity,  but 


JACOB  RITTER. 


85 


by  a  disconnection  v^'ith.  those  who  had  produced, 
and  were  promoting  such  disorders  amongst  us. 
By  official  accounts,  which  we  beheve  to  be 
nearly  correct,  from  all  parts  of  this  Yearly 
Meeting,  it  appears  that  out  of  about  twenty-Jive 
thousand  adults  and  children,  which  composed  it 
at  the  time  of  the  division,  about  eighteen  thou- 
sand remain  in  connection  w^ith  this  body." 

To  the  foregoing  it  may  be  added  that  of  147 
meetings  which  constituted  the  whole  number, 
belonging  to  our  Yearly  Meeting  at  the  time  of 
the  separation,  130  remained  with  Friends. — 
The  minority,  nevertheless,  have  assumed  exclu- 
sive claim  to  the  title  as  well  as  to  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Society ;  with  what  show  of  justice 
the  reader,  is,  perhaps,  by  this  time  prepared  to 
judge.  The  statistical  details  above  furnished, 
are  obtained  from  official  documents,  offered  as 
evidence  in  the  case  of  a  law  suit  instituted 
soon  after  the  period  of  the  division  by  Ortho- 
dox Friends,  who,  not  content  with  their  relative 
proportion  of  the  property,  which  Friends  have 
always  been  loilling  to  accord  them,  were  resolv- 
ed, by  virtue  of  legal  process,  to  appropriate  the 


86 


MEMOIRS  OF 


whole  to  themselves.  The  law-suits  have  heen 
generally  concluded  since  1829. 

To  the  official  statements  here  furnished,  in 
reference  to  the  cause  of  the  late  schism  in  our 
Society,  may  be  added,  the  strikmg  and  forcible 
testimony  with  which  the  excellent  subject  of 
these  memoirs  concludes  the  narrative  of  his  life, 
as  given  by  himself  : 

"  Now  I  am  clear  in  the  belief  that  had  we 
all  attended  faithfully  to  the  pure  principle  of 
light  and  life  in  our  hearts  and  minds,  these  dis- 
putes and  divisions  would  not  have  been  among 
us  ;  and  I  am  convinced,  that  we  never  shall  get 
back  to  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of 
peace  until  we  settle  down  in  the  everlasting  si- 
lence, to  the  saving  and  redeeming  principle  in 
our  own  hearts ;  and  blessed  is  he  who  attends 
strictly  to  its  divine  instructions  and  reproofs, 
w^hich  are  the  way  of  life  and  salvation." 


About  the  time  of  the  event  here  alluded 
to,  Jacob  Ritter,  in  company  with  my  father 
Hugh  Foulke,  w^as  engaged  in  a  religious 
visit  to  the  families  of  Friends,  and  others  who 
had  formerly  been  members  of  our  Society,  re- 


JACOB  RITTER. 


87 


siding  between  Gwynedd  and  Richland.  While 
engaged  in  this  service,  he  used  great  plainness  of 
expression  which  was  kindly  received. 

In  one  of  these  families,  a  young  man  man- 
ifested great  uneasiness.  (He  indulged  himself 
in  biting  a  stick,  and  spitting  and  twisting  vari- 
ous ways.)  Jacob  appeared  not  to  notice  the 
circumstance,  but  was  careful  to  keep  to  the 
pointings  of  truth  in  his  labors.  Next  morning, 
however,  on  rising  early,  as  was  his  usual  prac- 
tice, and  while  dehberately  engaged  in  dressing 
himself,  he  was  heard  to  mutter  : 

"  It  was  a  crooked  spharet,  (spirit)  it  was  an 
evil  spharet,  it  would  pite  tat  sthick  and  sphit  it 
out  agm,  but  oh  I  I  had  noting  to  do  with  it." 

This  amusing  soliloquy  was  the  first  intima- 
tion that  my  father  had  that  Jacob  had  noticed 
the  circumstance  above  related.  In  the  evening, 
while  conversing  on  this  subject,  it  was  remark- 
ed, "  that  a  man  may  easily  betray  himself  by 
his  motions  and  gestures,  and  give  pain  to 
others,  when  it  would  be  wise  for  him  to  sit  still 
and  endeavor  to  overcome  his  mental  conflicts  ; 


88 


MEMOIRS  OF 


that  it  is  impossible  to  attain  quietude  and  sere- 
nity of  mind  while  indulging  in  bodily  contor- 
tions ;  that  to  sit,  especially  on  occasions  of  Di- 
vine worship,  in  a  careless  and  irreverent  pos- 
ture, indicated  a  vacant  and  thoughtless  mind ;  and 
that  those  habits  were  equally  at  variance  with 
civility  and  religion." 

He  frequently  visited  the  meetings  of  Friends 
both  for  worship  and  disciphne  in  Bucks,  Mont- 
gomery, and  Chester  Counties  in  his  own  State, 
and  also  some  parts  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

He  labored  assiduously  for  the  promotion  of 
salutary  discipline  in  the  church  ;  was  a  sincere 
lover  of  order  and  harmony,  and  often  mourn- 
ed over  the  declension  in  society  from  primitive 
simplicity  in  dress,  language,  &c.  ^ 

He  was  particularly  qualified  to  administer 
reproof  without  giving  offence.  In  a  neigh- 
bouring Quarterly  meeting,  he  observed  that 
Friends  confined  their  appointments  to  a  few 
members.  He  said,  "  Friends,  I  have  taken  no- 
tice it  is  here  as  it  is  toa  much  the  case  at 
home,  and  in  other  places, — many  gifted  Fii^nds 


JACOB  HITTER. 


89 


f^eem  to  have  nothing  to  do,  ^vhile  oiliers  are 
overloaded  with  business.  I  have  taken  notice  in 
this  meeting  that  one  Friend  has  been  named  on 
every  committee,  and  this  does  not  seem  to  be 
fair,  for  one  man  cannot  do  everything.  When  1 
was  a  boy  I  heard  a  saying,  that  you  must  not 
fill  the  basket  too  full,  or  you  will  push  the  bot- 
tom out." 

The  following  are  memorandums  of  a  concern 
which  he  expressed  in  a  monthly  meeting,  viz  : 
"  If  Friends  v;ould  get  down  to  the  root  and 
foundation  and  spring  of  life  within  themselves, 
there  would  be  a  different  state  of  things  among 
us,  and  our  neighbours ;  we  would  be  more 
careful  to  attend  our  meetings,  and  W'e  should 
remember  that  the  Lord  looks  on  the  heart,  and 
not  so  much  on  a  fine  coat  on  our  backs,  or  a 
fine  horse  or  carriage,  or  on  the  outward  appear- 
ance. Man  looks  on  these  and  is  liable  to  be 
proud,  and  in  this  state  the  Lord  cannot  be  wor- 
shipped, for  he  beholdeth  the  proud  afaroflf ;  and 
they  who  are  in  this  state  are  always  afar  olf  from 
him,  and  he  is  not  nighinth-'ir  heai  ts,r.s  he  would 
beif  they  w^rehun.ble  andlow\  I  wasbroughtup 
in  a  Society  that  taught  me  in  my  catechism, 
12 


90 


MEMOIRS  OF 


when  I  was  young,  to  renounce  the  Devil  and  all 
his  works,  and  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  the 
world  ;  but  as  I  grew  up  I  found  this  catechism 
was  but  mere  words,  and  was  no  more  to  me  than 
as  sounding  brass,  and  a  tinkling  cymbal,  and 
my  heart  was  no  better." 

"  Friends  that  are  unfaithful  to  the  teachings 
of  the  lip  of  truth,  whose  hearts  and  minds  are  in 
the  world,  and  their  thoughts  running  after  fine 
dress,  and  fashionable  appearances,  who  follow 
the  w^orld  in  its  language,  manners,  and  customs, 
are  not  a  whit  better  than  any  other  Society 
that  is  in  the  same  spirit ;  for  it  will  be  found,  as 
the  lip  of  truth  has  declared,  that  wheresoever  the 
treasure  is,  there  will  the  heart  be  also,  and 
wheresoever  the  carcase  (or  body)  is,  there  will 
the  eagles  be  gathered  together." 

He  frequently  exhorted  Friends  to  be  faithful 
in  visiting  one  another  in  love,  and  especially  to 
remember  those  who  are  beginning  in  the  world, 
with  young  families  around  them.  These  had  many 
difficulties  and  temptations  to  encounter,  and 
often  required  the  attention  and  sympathy  of 
their  brethren. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


91 


In  the  year  1829,  he  attended  Baltimore  Year- 
y  Meeting.  Here  he  attracted  considerable  at- 
ention.  His  original  ideas,  his  apt  compari- 
sons, the  relation  of  his  sufferings  and  preser- 
vations communicated  in  broken  English,  joined 
to  his  innocent  and  unassuming  manners,  impart- 
ed much  interest  to  his  religious  labors. 

During  this  visit,  an  eminent  minister,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  meeting  for  sufferings  in  Baltimore,  ob- 
served that  he  did  not  approve  of  Friends  run- 
ning after  popular  preachers  to  hear  eloquent 
orations,  &c.,  but  that  he  felt  a  strong  inclination 
to  hear  Jacob  Ritter.  On  being  asked  his  rea- 
son, he  said,  that  Jacob  attended  tl.eir  meeting 
for  sufferings  the  other  evening,  and  said,  "when 
I  was  a  boy,  they  set  me  to  keep  the  sheep,  and 
so  they  called  me  the  sheep  boy,  and  I  took  no- 
tice in  the  spring  of  the  year,  when  there  was  a 
cold  easterly  storm,  the  ewes  would  stand  over 
the  lambs  to  keep  the  storm  off.  And  I  want 
this  meeting  for  sufferings  to  stand  over  the 
lambs  to  keep  the  storm  off."  This  seasonable 
hint,  the  Friend  remarked,  was  of  such  weight 
and  value  that  he  would  not  soon  forget  it. 


93 


MEMOIRS  OF 


He  afterwards  attended  New  York  Yearly 
Meeting.  Of  his  services  on  this  occasion,  his 
companion  gave  an  interesting  account.  Some 
time  after  this,  a  member  of  that  meeting,  in  the 
course  of  a  rehgious  visit,  called  to  see  Jacob 
Ritter.  He  found  him  very  unwell,  and  appa- 
rently under  some  depressi )  i  of  mind,  bu',  en- 
couraged by  the  kind  and  cheerful  conversation  of 
the  Friend,  his  drooping  spirits  revived.  He 
shed  tears,  and  inquired  after  a  number  of  Friends 
in  New  York  who  had  shown  much  kindness  to 
him,  and  expressed  his  thankfulness  that  Friends  . 
should  remember  him,  and  that  they  should  come 
to  see  a  poor  old  man.  He  was  reminded  that 
it  was  such  as  he  the  Apostle  alluded  to  when  he 
said,  "  Hath  not  God  chosen  the  poor  of  this 
world  rich  in  faith,  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom 
which  he  hath  promised  to  them  that  love  him?" 
JamL's  ^c,  5v. 

His  vJ'^^c.v  o-'  ed  h"m,  iP  he  reircmbered  the' 
good  advice  he  had  given  to  Friends,  at  the  last 
sitting  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  New  York. 
He  answered,  No,  I  don't  now  remember  ever 
doing  much  good."  The  Friend  replied,  "  It 
having  been  observed  that  we  had  a  very  good 


JACOB  RITTER. 


93 


meeting,  thou  said,  "  I  think  too  Friends,  we 
have  had  a  good  meeting,  and  we  should  be 
thankful  for  it :  for  it  is  what  we  cannot  com- 
mand in  our  own  will,  or  by  our  own  wisdom. 
Bnt  we  should  all  remember,  that  a  good  meet- 
ing, like  every  other  good  thing  from  the  Father 
of  mercies,  brings  forth  good  fruits;  now  let  us 
all  remember  friends,  and  take  some  of  the  good 
home  to  our  neighbors." 

Jacob  brightened  up,  and  inquired,  "  but  did 
you  obey?*'  It  was  answered  that  many  Friends 
bore  it  in  mind,  and  it  was  believed  that  the  hint 
had  been  useful ;  that  after  meeting  the  general 
query  among  Friends  was,  what  good  thing  they 
should  take  home  to  their  neighbors. 

It  has  been  already  remarked  that  he  seldom 
travelled  long  journeys  in  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try. He  once  went  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  but  his 
business  being  of  a  temporal  nature,  he  did  not 
ask  for  a  minute.  On  mentioning  his  prospect  to 
the  monthly  meeting,  he  was  encouraged  to  at- 
tend the  regular  meetings  for  worship  and  disci- 
pline, as  way  opened  in  the  course  of  his  journey, 


94 


MEMOIRS  OF. 


he  being  well  known  by  many  Friends  in  that 
part  of  the  country. 

He  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  in  1840.  The  business  of  this  meet- 
ing was  conducted  in  much  harmony :  brotherly 
affection  was  felt  to  abound  as  is  frequently  the 
case  on  these  occasions  when  Friends,  whose  re- 
sidences are  remote  from  each  other,  are  thus 
convened  together.  This  feeling  brought  out 
more  expression  than  was  believed  to  be  profita- 
ble, and  it  was  suggested  by  some  Friends,  that 
more  inward  and  silent  retirement  would  contri- 
bute to  the  best  interests  of  the  meeting.  Ja- 
cob remarked,  "  that  a  prudent  mother  who  had 
a  number  of  children  around  her,  while  she  was 
careful  to  provide  bread  enough  for  her  family, 
would  always  deal  it  out  sparingly,  that  none 
should  go  to  waste,  that  all  said  in  meetings  not 
really  needed,  however  good  it  might  be  in  itself, 
was  wasting  bread  that  might  be  wanted  in  the 
time  of  need.  In  the  Father's  house  there  is  al- 
ways bread  enough  and  to  spare,  but  never  any 
to  waste." 

While  attending  the  Yearly  Meeting,  he  was 


JACOB  RITTER. 


95 


taken  very  unwell,  and  returned  home.  Before 
the  meeting  concluded,  it  was  reported  in  Phila- 
delphia that  he  was  dead.  A  Friend  who  had 
heard  the  report  hastened  home  and  went  to  his 
house.  He  found  Jacob  sitting  under  his  piazza, 
weak  but  pretty  well  recovered  :  the  Friend  told 
him  it  was  reported,  "  he  was  dead  he  an- 
swered, I  am  dead  to  sin."  On  which  the 
Friend  observed,  that  many  people  considered 
a  being  dead  to  sin  a  state  of  perfection,  that 
could  not  be  attained  in  this  life.  To  this,  (as  he 
had  at  other  times  frequently  observed  in  rela- 
tion to  the  doctrine  of  perfection,)  he  answered 
in  substance : 

"  Ah  !  I  did  not  say  it  boastingly,  (his  being 
dead  to  sin,)  but  I  have  not  served  a  hard  Mas- 
ter, and  I  know  he  loves  me  ;  and  he  has  pre- 
served me  in  many  great  dangers,  and  severe 
hardships.  Now,  for  several  years  past,  I  have 
not  felt  any  thing  laid  to  my  charge,  for  I  have 
endeavoured  night  and  day  to  do  his  will,  inso- 
much that  it  has  been  my  meat  and  my  drink  to 
do  my  Heavenly  Father's  will ;  but  the  murmurer 
who  pleaded  that  he  had  served  a  hard  master, 
and  who  had  not  improved  his  talent,  was  not  ad- 


96 


MEMOIRS  OP 


mitted  into  the  kingdom,  but  was  cast  into  outer 
darkness,  where  there  was  weeping,  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeth." 

About  the  year  1840,  a  number  of  barns  in 
his  neighbourhood  were  burnt  by  lightning.  A 
Friend  having  alluded  to  the  loss  and  distress 
occasioned  by  this  awful  visitation,  he  said  in  a 
solemn  manner,  "  that  he  had  an  inward  sense 
of  it ;  and  that  these  dispensations  of  the  Al- 
mighty were  not  designed  for  evil  but  for  good: 
for  when  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  in  the 
earth,  the  inhabitants  thereof  learn  righteous- 
ness." 

About  six  months  before  hif?'  decease,  he  at- 
tended the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1841,  and  ap- 
peared to  enjoy  good  health  and  spirits.  It  may 
here  be  observed  that  for  several  years  his  hear- 
ing was  very  dull ;  but  it  was  remarkable  that 
he  would,  notwithstanding,  speak  pertinently  to 
the  business  of  the  meetings.  In  this  meeting 
he  discovered  that  there  was  some  dilBculty  in 
relation  to  the  language  of  a  paper  under  con- 
sideration. He  had  a  particular  objection  to 
criticisms  about  words ;  his  principal  concern 


JACOB  HITTER. 


97 


was  the  life.  His  remarks  on  this  occasion  were 
as  follows : 

I  can  remember  very  well  when  this  Year- 
ly  Meeting  was  held  in  Pine  street,  and  I  thought 
there  were  great  and  good  men  belonged  to  it — 
but  in  regard  to  writing  epistles,  they  could  not 
agree  ;  though  I  thought  at  that  time,  that  they 
could  spin  out  a  story  pretty  long,  and  write  verv 
well,  and  so  on ;  but  when  it  was  read  in  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  one  would  have  a  word  scratch- 
ed out  here  and  another  there,  but  it  made  hack- 
ling work — too  many  cooks  spoil  the  broth." 

At  the  Monthly  meeting  held  at  Plymouth  in 
the  seventh- month,  1841,  he  was  very  clear  and 
favored  in  his  ministry.  His  observations  in  the 
meeeting  for  discipline  were  impressive,  and 
brought  solemnity  over  the  minds  of  Friends. — 
A  concern  was  expressed  that  our  approaching 
Quarterly  meeting  might  be  held  to  the  comfort 
of  Friends ;  that  the  members  might  endeavour, 
as  much  as  possible,  to  keep  their  seats,  and  to 
avoid  conversation  in  and  about  the  yard,  as  a 
contrary  behaviour  was  disorderly,  and  had  an 
13 


9S 


MEMOIRS  OF 


rnisettling  tendency.  Jacob  addressed  the  meet- 
ing in  substance  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  long  considered  worship  as  the  most 
solemn  act  we  can  engage  in  ;  and  when  we  go 
to  meetings,  either  for  worship  or  discipline,  we 
should  remember,  we  are  professing  to  do  the 
Lord's  work,  and  not  man's.  Now  it  is  a  great 
favor  that  we  are  permitted  to  take  part  in  such 
a  work,  and  are  called  to  it :  we  are  here  called 
to  the  house  of  prayer.  I  have  been  think- 
ing in  this  meeting,  what  would  the  king,  or 
the  president,  or  a  great  man  of  the  earth  think 
of  us,  if  we  had  a  petition  to  make  to  him,  and 
we  should  come  in  before  him  in  a  light  manner, 
and  busy  ourselves  about  other  matters  besides 
our  petition,  and  misbehave  oursf;lves  before  him, 
what  would  he  think  of  us  ?  Or  if  we  were  to 
go  to  sleep  before  him,  could  we  expect  in  reason 
he  would  grant  us  our  petition  ?  Oh !  Friends, 
if  these  things  are  so  when  we  come  before  a 
man  like  ourselves,  our  fellow-worm,  what  will 
become  of  us  in  the  day  of  solemn  account,  when 
we  come  before  the  King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of 
Lords?" 


JACOB  RITTER.  99 

On  his  way  home  from  a  funeral  a  little  before 
his  decease,  he  said  to  a  Friend,  "  I  believe  my 
time  is  now  very  short  in  this  world  ;  and  when 
I  am  gone,  if  thou  hast  any  of  the  management 
or  direction  about  my  funeral,  I  desire  that  my 
interment  may  not  take  place  too  soon." 

He  attended  Plymouth  meeting  on  first-day, 
the  28th  of  the  eleventh-month,  1841,  and  ap- 
peared in  the  ministry  with  clearness,  and  much 
to  the  comfort  and  satisfaction  of  Friends.  This 
was  the  last  meeting  he  attended. 

On  third-day  the  30th,  he  was  taken  very  un- 
well, and  from  this  time,  continued  gradually  to 
decline  for  about  two  weeks. 

A  few  days  before  his  departure,  two  Friends 
called  to  see  him.  He  greeted  them  affection- 
ately, and  desired  to  be  raised  upon  the  bed.  Af- 
ter a  pause,  he  said,  in  a  firm  distinct  voice, — 
"  I  have  seen,  as  it  were,  all  the  world  of  man- 
kind before  me;  and  they  that  repent,  and  are  fa- 
vored to  overcome  their  own  stubborn  wills,  shall 
live  and  shall  be  saved  v;ith  an  everlasting  salva- 
tion.   But  they  that  will  not  repent  must  die." 


100 


MEMOIRS  OF 


One  of  the  Friends  remarked,  "  that  it  was  a 
great  consolation  that  his  Divine  Master  was 
\vith.  him ;  that  it  reminded  him  of  some  of  the 
last  expressions  of  a  beloved  Friend,  lately  de- 
ceased, who  had  quoted  the  promise  of  our  Sa- 
viour to  his  disciples,  and  who  had  felt  at  that 
solemn  time,  that  this  promise  applied  to  himself, 
viz  :  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world." 

After  a  pause,  he  said  in  a  very  feeling  man- 
ner, "  yes,  it  is  true  in  my  case,  and  though  my 
bodily  sufferings  are  very  great,  yet  I  am  merci- 
fully supported  under  them  ;  and  I  know  they 
are  refining  and  preparing  me  for  a  state  of  ever- 
lasting rest  and  happiness." 

Soon  after  this,  two  other  Friends  visited  him 
and  found  him  apparently  asleep,  but  suffering 
under  grea":  difficulty  of  breathing.  After  he 
awoke,  seeing  the  Friends,  he  said,  "  Oh  !  I  am 
glad  to  see  you :"  and  after  a  little  pause,  ad- 
ded, "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world." 


The  following  memorandums  were  made  by 


JACOB  RITTER. 


101 


nvo  Friends  who  had  assisted  in  the  care  of  him 
11  ing  his  ilhiess.    From  these,  it  appears,  that 
e  prominent  feature  in  his  character  was  pre- 
i  ved  to  the  last,  viz  :  "  A  remarkable  exemp- 
tion from  any  thing  like  self-righteousness."  On 
one  occasion,  on  parting  with  some  Friends  who 
had  come  to  see  him,  he  said,  "  It  is  profitable 
for  Friends  to  visit  one  another  in  the  life,"  and 
on  several  occasions  he  repeated  the  admonition, 
"  mind  the  light." 

"  As  his  means  of  living  had  been  truly  ex- 
emplary in  dress  and  furniture,  setting  a  good 
example  himself,  so  in  his  last  illness  he  was  of- 
ten led  to  make  solid  remarks  on  these  subjects. 
He  said  he  had  abused  himself  in  younger  life  by 
excessive  labor,  and  too  much  ambition  to  obtain 
a  livelihood  ;  that  he  now  felt  the  effects  of  his 
former  abuses  of  the  good  gifts  of  Heaven,  and 
that  his  suffering  was  increased  by  it ;  he  admon- 
ished those  around  him  not  to  do  so,  that  it  be- 
spoke a  manifest  Avant  of  faith  in  the  promise 
from  the  lip  of  truth. 

"  His  affectionate  admonition  to  all  Friends 
every  where  was  to  exercise  forbearance  towards 


102 


MEMOIRS  OF 


those  who  had  transgressed  the  discipline,  ob- 
serving that  the  kingdom  of  Christ  comes  by 
entreaty  and  not  by  force  ;  and  in  relation  to 
persons  under  convincement,  he  was  desirous 
that  patience  might  have  its  perfect  work,  and 
that  they  should  be  treated  with  love  and  ten- 
derness. 

"He  expressed  an  earnest  desire  that  Friends 
might  be  preserved  from,  and  keep  out  of  the 
spirit  of  the  world,  and  all  its  commotions,  and 
that  all  Friends  every  where  should  be  faithful, 
and  not  suffer  the  fear  of  man  to  prevent  them 
from  doing  the  w^ll  of  their  Creator. 

"  As  his  end  drew  near,  he  said,  "  I  feel  that 
the  truth  and  seed  of  hfe  has  the  dominion  and 
reigns  in  me.  Oh  !  that  the  babe  of  immortal 
life  might  be  brought  forth,  and  be  nourished,  and 
have  the  dominion  in  all  people  ;  how  kind  then 
would  they  be  to  one  another." 

"  His  words  were  seas  oned  with  grace,  and 
his  mind  w^as  preserved  in  a  heavenly  calm  to 
the  last  ;  and  in  this  undisturbed  and  peaceful 
state,  he  continued  until  one  o'clock  in  the  after- 


JACOB  RITTER. 


103 


noon  of  fourth-day,  the  fifteenth  of  the  twelfrh- 
raonth,  1841,  when  he  passed  quietly  away,  in 
the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  and  resigned  his 
spirit  to  him  who  gave  it.  He  was  a  minister 
about  fifty  years,  and  a  member  of  this  meeting 
nearly  twenty-nine. 

His  remains  were  interred  in  Friends'  burial 
ground  at  Plymouth  on  seventh-day  the  eigh- 
teenth of  the  month,  on  which  solemn  occasion, 
a  meeting  for  worship  was  held  after  the  inter- 
ment."' 


RECAPITULATION. 


On  reviewing  the  life,  character  and  religious 
experiences  of  Jacob  Ritter,  together  with  the 
merciful  display  of  the  Divine  power  in  preser- 
ving him  in  his  greatest  extremities,  and  de- 
livering him  out  of  all  his  dangers  ;  and  finally, 
after  leading  him  safely  along  to  old  age,  taking 
the  dominion  and  reigning  over  all  in  him,  while 
he  was  passing  through  the  valley  of  the  sha- 
dow of  death,  we  discover  much  for  edification 
and  comfort.  1  Cor.  xiv.  3.  Hence  it  becomes 
the  duty  of  those  who  knew  him,  and  were  his 
brethren  in  the  same  spiritual  relationship,  to  be 
faithful  to  the  injunction,  "  gather  up  the  frag- 
ments that  remain,  that  nothing  be  lost." 

In  him,  we  see  the  character  of  the  Apostles, 
their  experience,  and  the  promise  of  Christ  ex- 
emphfied.  They  said,  '-Lo,  we  have  left  all, and 
followed  thee."  Jesus  answered,  "  YerDy  I 
say  unto  you,  there  is  no  man  that  hath  left 
house  or  parents,  or  brethren  or  wife  or  children 
for  the  kingdom  of  God's  sake,  who  shall  not  re- 


106 


MEMOIRS  OF 


ceive  manifold  more  in  this  present  time,  and  in 
the  world  to  come,  life  everlasting."  Luke  xviii. 
28,  29,  30. 

Jacob  Ritter  had  not  received  a  scholastic 
education  ;  he  had  not  been  instructed  in  the 
rules  of  theology ;  he  had  not,  like  Paul,  been 
brought  up  at  the  feet  of  a  Gamaliel.  But  the  re- 
ligion that  Paul  learned  in  that  school,  was  at  en- 
mity with  the  cross  of  Christ;  and  he  knew  nothing 
of  the  Gospel  "  but  by  the  revelation  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  Gal.  i.,  12.  :  nay,  he  counted  (he 
righteousness  which  was  in  the  law,  and  all 
things  with  it  (by  comparison),  but  dross  and 
dung' that  he  might  w^in  Christ.    Philemon  iii.  8. 

Jacob,  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  had  not  re- 
ceived instruction  by  w^hicli  he  had  been  taught 
even  the  being  of  God  ;  but  when  he  beheld  the 
starry  firmament  and  changing  clouds,  his  young 
untutored  mind  thought,  "  surely  there  must  be 
some  great  power,  that  created  and  formed  all 
these  things  and  though  he  had  often  felt  the 
secret  ^ouches  of  Divine  love,  yet  he  wist  not 
what  it  was. 


JACOB  RITTER. 


107 


Soon  after  this  he  beheld  in  the  visions  of 
Light,  the  heavenly  city,  and  was  shown  that  he 
must  enter  this  city  by  Christ  ;  this  accords 
with  the  declaration  :  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  imto 
yoQ,  he  that  entereth  not  by  the  door  into  the 
^heep-fold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the 
same  is  a  thief  and  a  robber."  John  x.  1.  Again, 
he  saw  that  this  heavenly  city  needed  not  the 
light  of  the  sun,  nor  of  the  moon,  for  Christ  is 
the  light  thereof. 

When  he  w^as  about  sixteen,  while  standing 
alone  in  the  woods  in  solemn  silence,  a  sight  and 
sense  came  over  him  of  the  horrors  of  war  ;  but 
he  did  not  know  the  meaning  of  it. 

When  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  there 
was  a  muster  of  the  militia  in  his  neighborhood  ; 
and  he  was  taught  by  the  minister  of  the  church 
to  which  he  belonged  the  propriety  and  necessity 
of  standing  in  defence  of  his  country  against  her 
enemies ;  and  he  was  finally  prevailed  upon, 
against  his  better  judgment,  to  join  the  army. 

He  now  experienced  a  pause  somewhat  simi-^ 
lar,  though  under  very  different  circumstanceSi 


108 


MEMOIRS  OF 


to  the  solemn  silence  that  came  over  him  while 
standing  alone  in  the  woods  when  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age  ;  it  was  indeed  its  painful  counter- 
part :  "  an  awful  pause"  he  says,  (alluding  to 
the  battle  of  Brandywine,)  "preceded  the  en- 
gagement." Here  he  was  taken  prisoner  and 
brutally  beaten.  War-worn  and  weary,  he  was 
driven  to  Philadelphia,  and  turned  into  prison 
with  about  nine  hundred  men.  In  this  prison, 
he  suffered  almost  all  the  privations  and  cruelty 
that  we  can  conceive  human  nature  capable  of 
enduring. 

It  may  be  here  mentioned  more  fully  than  is 
recited  in  his  journal,  and  as  he  frequently  rela- 
ted, that  in  all  his  sufferings  in  prison  he  was 
never  wholly  forsaken  by  the  Divine  presence  ; 
that  though  he  felt  keen  remorse  for  his  disobe- 
dience to  clear  manifestations  of  duty  in  entering 
into  the  army,  yet  in  compliance  with  what  he 
believed  to  be  his  duty,  he  prostrated  himself  on 
the  ground  every  evening,  and  implored  the 
Father  of  mercies  for  forgiveness.  "  I  laid  my- 
self down  and  begged"  said  he;  and  in  one  of 
these  mental  fervent  intercessions,  he  received 
the  assurance  of  Divine  pardon,  accompanied 


JACOB  BITTER. 


109 


by  a  promise  of  deliverance  which  gave  him 
new  life. 

He  was  in  awful  perils  when  the  yellow  fever 
was  raging  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  the  year 
1793 ;  but  he  saw  the  finger  of  God  in  this  dis- 
pensation of  his  judgments,  and  cast  all  his  care 
and  dependence  upon  Him,  who  mercifully  pre- 
served him,  and  raised  him  from  the  bed  of  sick- 
ness when  that  malignant  epidemic  was  upon 
him. 

Twice  he  was  in  perils  among  false  brethren 
who,  in  the  first  instance,  denoimced  him  as  a  re- 
probate, and  in  the  second,  as  an  unbeHever  and 
a  heretic.  As  the  same  spirit,  in  the  same  man- 
ner, accused  Paul  formerly  :  so  he,  like  Paul,  de- 
clared that  after  the  way  which  they  called  heresy, 
so  worshipped  he  the  God  of  his  fathers,  belie^-ing 
all  things  which  are  written  in  the  law  and  the 
prophets  :  and  again,  "  they  could  not  prove  the 
things  whereof  they  accused  him."  Acts  xxiv. 
13,  14, 

But  through  all  his  trials  he  maintained  the 
doctrine  of  the  common  salvation,  and  according 


110 


MEMOIRS  OF 


to  the  Apostolic  exhortation,  contended  ear- 
nestly for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints, 
Jude  iii,  saying,  by  the  expressive  language  of 
example,  and  by  his  blameless  life  and  conversa- 
tion among  men,  "none  of  these  things  move  me, 
neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so 
that  I  might  finish  my  course  vv^ith  joy,  and  the 
ministry  w^hich  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.'* 
Acts  XX.  24. 

Like  Job,  "  he  died,  being  old  and  full  of 
days."  We  who  are  left  behind,  are  sensible 
that  a  faithful  standard  bearer  has  been  removed. 
We  feel  the  privation,  yet  not  without  the  cheer- 
ing hope  that  our  loss  is  his  eternal  gain.  This 
hope  is  confirmed  by  his  dying  words,  viz  :  "  I 
feel  that  the  truth  and  seed  of  hfe  has  the  do- 
minion and  reigns  in  me."  Oh  I  such  a  testi- 
mony at  such  a  time  naturally  inspires  in  us  who 
are  left  behind  the  ejaculation  of  one  formerly: 
"  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my 
last  end  be  like  his." 

To  conclude,  as  his  life  was  in  some  respects 
similar  to  that  of  the  apostle,  so,  we  believe, 


JACOB  RITTER. 


Ill 


the  declaration  of  the  latter  when  he  drew  near 
the  solemn  close,  might  have  been  fully  adopted 
by  the  subject  of  these  memoirs :  "  I  am  now 
ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  depar- 
ture is  at  hand.  T  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have 
kept  the  faith :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me 
a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord  the 
righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day,  and 
not  to  me  only,  but  unto  ail  them  also  that  love 
his  appearing."    2.  Tim.  iv.  7,  8. 


THE  END. 


